The season begins for Sheffield United in ten days’ time at Watford and Paul Heckingbottom is already sweating on the fitness of a few big players.
The likes of Jayden Bogle and Tommy Doyle will miss the game, while Adam Davies is also set to be out for a while after picking up an injury in pre-season. However, there are a few players in the Blades squad where it remains a bit unclear as to whether they’ll be fit.
One of those players is striker, Oli McBurnie. The £20m signing from Swansea has been missing since the back end of last season with a foot injury. Indeed, it’s going on four months nearly now since United fans saw McBurnie in action.
And according to Yorkshire Live, United fans might have to wait even longer to see the big striker in action. According to YL’s Nathan Hemmingham, it’s believed McBurnie was weeks rather than days away during the pre-season camp over in Portugal.
Further, McBurnie was seen only taking part in gym sessions and light fitness work on the clips released by United of their trip. With that in mind, and Yorkshire Live’s info, you’d have to say McBurnie is out for Watford.
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Our View: McBurnie Faces Big Season When Back From Injury
Oli McBurnie has been marmite in the eyes of United fans ever since he joined. Some love him, some hate him, and that’s always just how it’s been.
However, while we’ve defended McBurnie on this website more than once, patience is running thinner and thinner for even the most staunch of McBurnie fans. The fact is that the goals haven’t arrived at all in the last two years and his injury problems have been an issue as well. Of course, that part isn’t his fault, but it’s hampered his progress.
There is still a chance McBurnie delivers the goods for United. But it has to be this season, and he has to get it right when he does return from injury. Chances will come for him under Heckingbottom, and it’s simply down to him to take them during the campaign.