Wilder set for more twists and turns in play-off bid
CHRIS BASHAM believes the return of a Sheffield United player he likens to Gareth Bale can be just the lift the club needs in the race for the Premier League.
The Blades host Queens Park Rangers tonight with David Brooks likely to be on the bench for the second time in four days.
United’s talented 20-year-old has only recently returned from a bout of glandular fever that left him hospitalised. It means his recovery has to be carefully managed, as Chris Wilder made clear yesterday.
But, for Basham, the return of Welsh international Brooks is a huge lift for the club’s hopes of claiming back to back promotions.
After likening the Academy product’s style to Real Madrid star Bale, the United defender said: “The reason I mention Bale is just how smooth he (Brooks) is as a player and how comfortable he is with either his right or left foot.
“When he goes past someone, it seems easy. If I want to go past someone, I have to really think how to do it.
“But he cruises past. He brings people into the game, by not just thinking about himself but also others. He can have two or three people around him but he has a football brain.
“We have missed that, either him coming on or starting with Leon (Clarke) or Billy Sharp up front.
“He has the temperament as well. He is a really down to earth kid, a bit like the dressing room as a whole. Everyone is together as a team.”
Brooks’s return to first-team action came as a half-time substitute in last Friday’s FA Cup defeat at Leicester City.
It was his first outing since December 8 and there can be little doubt that the Blades had missed him and ‘Couttsy’ (Paul Coutts, who broke his leg in November). That made it tough for the team.
“But, now having ‘Brooksy’ back fit, there are 15 games to go and he has a point to prove as well due to wanting to be in the Wales squad. He will be itching to be involved.”
Any involvement for Brooks tonight against Rangers is likely to come from the bench as United look to build on a decent performance in the 2-1 victory over Yorkshire rivals Leeds in their last league outing.
Another home win would take Wilder’s men to within touching distance of the play-offs and fuel hopes of extending the club’s season beyond May 6.
Basham, as one of the longerserving members of the Blades squad, is well-versed in the challenges of a promotion race. He also has the experience of previous play-off pushes with Rochdale and Blackpool to fall back on.
Asked about United’s prospects, the 29-year-old replied: “Compared to what I have seen elsewhere, this club is a little bit different. Others tend to look at the other clubs’ fixtures more than we do here.
“We just try to deal with each game as it comes and focus on performing at our highest, If we do that, the gaffer says, we will be in with a chance of winning the game.
“Having said that, I did look at how (sixth-placed) Bristol City were doing at Leeds (on Sunday). I saw on my ’phone it was 2-0 and thought, ‘Oh dear me’. But Leeds fought back and had a real, good go (to get a point from a 2-2 draw), That was probably the right result for us in the long run.
“If we can get the points against QPR and Hull City (on Friday night), hopefully we can get back in that top six.” SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Chris Wilder insists it is far too early to suggest the chasing pack in the race for the play-offs are all hunting just one or two berths.
The Blades host Queens Park Rangers tonight knowing victory will leave the top six within touching distance.
Bristol City, the side currently occupying the final play-offs slot, are four points ahead of United, with in-form Fulham another three points further ahead.
Then comes Derby County, Aston Villa and Cardiff City behind runaway leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving some pundits to suggest the top five is all but settled with only the order likely to change.
Wilder, however, refuses to subscribe to such a theory and, instead, points to the topsy-turvy nature of the Championship as proof that plenty of surprises still lay in wait for the promotionchasing pack.
“Time is running out and you can’t afford to lose a batch of games if you want to be involved at the end of the season,” said the 50-year-old. “If we win a batch, it puts us in a better position but it still doesn’t guarantee us anything.
“A few teams have had not great runs (at various stages of the season). Fulham didn’t exactly come out of the blocks early on, then Cardiff lost a few games. You just never know in this division.
“Bristol City were flying but are now having a bit of a (difficult) period. So, they can regroup and go again, just like we can regroup and go again.”
United’s 2-1 victory over Leeds in their last league outing 10 days ago was a welcome return to winning ways for a side that had taken just 10 points from their previous 13 games.
“There are going to be twists and turns right until the end of the season,” added Wilder, who has Richard Stearman and top scorer Leon Clarke available again after illness.
“Teams who are expected to win won’t and vice versa. There is everything to play for across the division.
“Look at Villa, not so long ago they weren’t going to do anything. Then, they were beating Birmingham in front of 40,000 fans and it was Villa’s to lose. Then, a few players have to drop out, they lose at Fulham (last Saturday) and, suddenly, the doubts creep in again.
“We were never a million miles off.
“There will be a few teams that still fancy their chances. I think it (the race for the play-offs) goes right the way down to possibly 13th or 14th position.”