Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic has delivered more bad news on the injury front ahead of the Blades’ trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend.
United are looking to put the defeat to Blackpool and then subsequent draw with Nottingham Forest behind them. A win is needed at Ewood Park, and the Blades will fancy their chances given Rovers shipped seven against Fulham last night.
However, in terms of Sheffield United team news, there is yet more bad news for Jokanovic and the Blades. Speaking in his press conference today ahead of the Blackburn trip, Jokanovic confirmed that Adlene Guedioura will be missing until the new year, while Ben Davies is also still out.
“Ben (Davies) is out because of a virus. It’s not Covid, but he’s sick and he’s not working with us. It’s a virus, it’s some flu or something like this. He is sick, not injured,” Jokanovic told the Yorkshire Post.
“Adlene Guedioura had an operation which was successful but we can’t think about him for eight weeks and we hope he can start with the team next year.”
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Sheffield United fans are already fearing the worst at Blackburn. Many have already spoken on Twitter about how they feel the game will go.
Having players missing, then, will no help the cause for the Blades
Sheffield United Injuries Stacking Up Ahead of Blackburn
It’s getting to that part of the season where these things start to affect teams in the Championship. Luckily, the Blades do have a decent sized squad and can cover the losses for the trip to Rovers.
But Guedioura’s and Davies’ injuries add to the long-term knock for Sander Berge, while there’s still no word on Oli McBurnie. The big striker was missing from Tuesday night’s squad. It’s not yet known whether he will return for this weekend.
Slavisa Jokanovic will be hoping his squad now steps up to the plate. It’s likely to be another chance for Chris Basham in defence. In midfield, though, it is a blow.
John Fleck and Oli Norwood have minimal competition. The loss of Guedioura, then, is a bit of a kick in the teeth.
It means as many as four potential first-team players are now missing this weekend or beyond. And that’s without even including the long-term problems that Jack O’Connell is having.