Sheffield United sweating on major injury concern with Leeds United clash in eyesight

Sheffield United could be without key midfielder and stand-in captain Oliver Arblaster for their trip to Leeds United later this month, with Chris Wilder unable to provide a timeline for his recovery from injury.

Arblaster had been an ever-present in the Sheffield United midfield but missed their last two games, having suffered a freak ankle injury in training last month. The 20-year-old turned his ankle under no contact and has been out of action since, although there has never been clarity over how long it will be until he returns.

The Blades host Swansea City and Luton Town in a Championship double-header this week and then have a fortnight to assess Arblaster before heading north to Elland Road. And Wilder suggested his midfielder will miss the upcoming two games, with the Sheffield United manager not able to guarantee a return for that Yorkshire derby.

Asked if there was any time frame regarding Arblaster’s return, Wilder told The Star: “No, not really. It’s week by week, really. Let’s get through the international break and see how it is, leading up to the two big games after the break. It’s not ‘serious’ serious. We’ve got to cope with it and I believe we will cope with it.

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"Sydie [Peck] has come in and played a part. Jamie Shackleton and Gus Hamer can play in there if we want to as well. It’s a tight squad and we have to cope and get over these mini setbacks and show we are not just about one player and the team isn’t reliant on one player, even though he’s an outstanding young player."

That October break will give Sheffield United the chance to improve the fitness of long-term absentees Jack Robinson and Tom Davies, who are both yet to feature this season. Although it remains to be seen whether either will be fit in time to be involved at Leeds in two-and-a-half-week’s time.

Leeds have a major absence of their own to manage, with Daniel Farke confirming on Monday that former Blades loanee Ethan Ampadu suffered a serious injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his knee during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Coventry City. He is expected to be out until the new year and joins Max Wober, Dan James, Manor Solomon and Isaac Schmidt in the treatment room ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Norwich City.