Yorkshire Post

The tartan tussle is intriguing sub-plot for Coutts

- LEON WOBSCHALL

PAUL COUTTS admits that he was willing on Sheffield Wednesday to come a cropper in last season’s play-offs – for the second year running – so that the Steel City derby was put back on the footballin­g map.

Following Sheffield United’s record-breaking 2016-17 promotion campaign, extra piquancy was provided for Unitedites by their arch-rivals’ play-off exit to Huddersfie­ld Town with Blades players also delighted at the Owls remaining in the Championsh­ip.

Coutts said: “As a Blades man, of course I was pleased they lost in the play-offs so the derby could return.

“There is a buzz in the city, everyone you speak to wishes you luck – or not so – for Sunday. Once the whistle goes, we can leave the talking and get down to football.

“We can go out there, do our jobs and, hopefully, get a positive result. It is all everyone is speaking about. It is a great occasion and it is nice the game is back.

“I have played in the Derby and (Nottingham) Forest derby. That is a big game, but there is a different buzz around the city for this one. It is going to be right up there.”

He quipped: “My window cleaner is a Wednesday fan. So he has come around and said he hoped I was injured.

“If we do lose, that is something to sort out. His job has gone,” he joked.

A tasty sub-plot to Sunday is provided by the mini-battle for Tartan supremacy in midfield with Coutts and John Fleck likely to line up against Barry Bannan and Ross Wallace.

The quartet know each other, but fraternisi­ng with the ‘enemy’ has strictly been off limits with the sole focus of Fleck – whose Scottish affiliatio­ns are with Rangers – and Coutts – an Aberdonian and Dons fan – being on taking care of Blades business.

He said: “Me and Flecky know Barry from the Scotland youth set-ups. I know Ross Wallace from Preston. But once the whistle blows, that is it. I do not socialise with the opposition.

“I have let the Rangers thing slide with Flecky. We get on great. I think that shows on the pitch. We have got a good relationsh­ip on and off the park; everyone is together and everyone are mates here.”

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