Heck of a list - Former Leeds United boss has injury woes ahead of Elland Road reunion but Chris Basham could return

Paul Heckingbottom's injury-hit Sheffield United hope to have Chris Basham back for their trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Saturday.
TRAINING KNOCK - Chris Basham, pictured battling with Rodrigo, could return from a knock sustained in training to face Leeds United at Elland Road. Pic: GettyTRAINING KNOCK - Chris Basham, pictured battling with Rodrigo, could return from a knock sustained in training to face Leeds United at Elland Road. Pic: Getty
TRAINING KNOCK - Chris Basham, pictured battling with Rodrigo, could return from a knock sustained in training to face Leeds United at Elland Road. Pic: Getty

The Premier League's basement side have lost both games under interim boss and former Whites manager Heckingbottom, since Chris Wilder's shock departure on March 12.

A 5-0 capitulation at Leicester City was followed by a 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea ahead of an international break that has allowed the Blades to give Basham some time to recover.

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The centre-half, who started every one of Sheffield United s Premier League fixtures last season as they finished ninth, missed three of the last four league fixtures but returned to play all of the game at the King Power Stadium.

He took a knock in training before the Chelsea clash however and was expected to return in time to play against Leeds.

Heckingbottom will still have significant injury problems even if Basham returns, however.

Another key centre-back, Jack O'Connell, needed knee surgery at the end of September and then in January suffered a setback in his attempt to return. He's yet to make it back.

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John Egan, yet another central defender, broke a toe against West Ham in February and is now back on the grass, but the Leeds game is thought to have come too soon, while wing-back Enda Stevens, who played in a back three against Chelsea, returned to Sheffield United this week after being pulled out of the Republic of Ireland's final match of the international break.

Left-back Jack Robinson hasn't played since December due to a foot problem and Jack Rodwell hasn't played all season.

Former Leeds striker Billy Sharp has been struggling with a hip flexor issue and missed the Chelsea game. Fellow forward Lys Mousset is expected to be fit, although he's yet to manage a full 90 minute appearance during an injury-disrupted campaign.

Midfielder Sander Berge went under the knife at the end of December to correct a hamstring problem and is yet to feature since.

Sheffield United sit bottom of the Premier League with 14 points from 29 games and a 14-point gulf exists between them and safety. They lost 1-0 to Leeds earlier in the season at Bramall Lane.