Blades left blunted by injury woes

SHEFFIELD United’s injury problems continue ahead of their trip to Coventry City with confirmation that in-form striker Oli Mcburnie requires surgery.

The 26-year-old has been in a hot streak of form, scoring five goals in six games up until two games ago, but is set to reduced to a bit-part between now and the World Cup break when he’s been booked in for a hernia operation.

Mcburnie was on the bench for the weekend’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Blackpool at Bramall Lane, going on just after the hour for the Blades in a match in which first choice goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was sent off after the final whistle. United have appealed the decision and are waiting to hear if he will be suspended for tonight’s game against the Sky Blues at the CBS Arena.

Mcburnie spent time last week in London having injections and manager Paul Heckingbottom says his game time and minutes will have to be managed between now and the winter break.

“We are going to be carrying Oli, he is playing with a hernia,” said Heckingbottom. “He’s had some treatment week and has been down London and had some injections. I want him to know he will be used in every game. We will book him in for any surgery during the break.”

Youngster Daniel Jebbison is also facing time on the sidelines after picking up a ligament injury in training.

Elsewhere, former Sky Blues midfielder John Fleck is back in training and Ben Osborn started for the first time at the weekend since August.

Osborn, meanwhile, admits United need to tighten up after conceding six goals in their last two games, while also having last season’s 4-1 defeat to the Sky Blues in mind.

“If you look at Coventry last year they ran all over us and it’s up to us not to give the sloppy goals away,” he said, speaking at the pre-match press conference.

“It’s time to be really tight and kill the game when we went 2-0 up (at the weekend), so hopefully we can do more to cut out goals we are conceding.

“If you look at September we were a little bit tighter rather than gung-ho in last couple of games, and we need to get that control back.”