REAM SET FOR A BIG BLADES WELCOME

CHRIS WILDER says Fulham’s Tim Ream will be welcomed with open arms today – in return for the support he showed Sheffield United stalwart Chris Basham.

The Blades face the Cottagers for the first time since Basham was sidelined by a career-threatening injury at Craven Cottage last October.

The long-serving centreback, 35, was left in agony and required oxygen before being stretchered off (above) with extensive damage to his leg and ankle.

Ream (right) was the first person to tend to Basham as he lay on the turf and got many plaudits for the care he showed.

Wilder has compared the American defender’s actions to the human spirit fans displayed when

Luton’s Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest at Bournemouth in December.

The Blades boss said:

“It’s an incredibly competitive sport that we’re playing.

“But it takes an incredibly vicious, hostile crowd or team to go against the human nature of what happened to Bash or Tom Lockyer.

“The attitude of the Luton fans and the supporters at

Bournemouth was an understanding that we’re all after three points but that there are bigger things to consider.

“There was that same consideration with the pain that Bash was going through at Fulham.

“I’ve had a couple of dealings with Tim and he’s a real solid guy and I know what their supporters think of him.

“He won’t be looking for anything but the part Tim and their medical staff played will be very appreciated on Saturday.” Basham, who is now into his 10th season at Bramall Lane, is out of contract in the summer, and recently conceded that he is unsure if he will play again.

Yet Wilder revealed: “Bash is in good spirits as he always is.

“It takes a lot to get him down so while he’s been around the place he’s been bright and bubbly.

“It’s a long road for him to getting back to doing everyday things with his family and that’s the first obstacle he needs to overcome.

“There’s not been a lot of talk about getting him back on the training ground and resuming his career as an excellent footballer.

“If Bash is about, he’ll have a feeling regarding this fixture. From our point of view to see him around the place is really good.”