Sheffield United are preparing for their clash with Southampton away from home at St Mary’s with the Blades sitting 17th following their first 26 league games whilst the Saints are one place above in 16th having played 27 games.
Just one point separates both sides and a victory for either outfit would see them extend the gap over their opponents heading into the closing months of January.
Meanwhile, in their last five games, United have won just twice and have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Brentford whilst Southampton have won just once in their last five games with this falling in the FA Cup against Doncaster Rovers.
Now, with the game taking place tonight, both managers have been looking at key topics surrounding their sides currently with Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder confirming that the Blades will be without three players for the fixture.
Speaking to the Club media before the game, Wilder stated: “He (Jaïro) is going to be out for a couple of weeks, capped off a strange 48 hours before the Charlton game.
“Everyone was fit and raring to go, the team was selected and we’d gone through all the preparations and process on the back of two outstanding performances.
“Jaïro (Riedewald) has been a really big part of where we have got things too and the last action of a small-sided game that we have on matchday minus one, he’s stretched to keep a ball in, back heeled it and then gone down.
“It was a big blow, especially knowing the game we were playing (at Charlton) and the situation with Ollie Arblaster, Sydie Peck and Tom Davies.”
Whilst Riedewald looks to be out, both Japhet Tanganga and Djibril Soumaré will definitely miss the game with the duo starting their three-match suspensions following red cards last weekend.
Meanwhile, Wilder also commented on the competition currently present within the Blades squad with him stating: “Competition for places is intense.
“I’ve spoke to the players about that, there is no gimmies because of what you might have done last season or somewhere else, this is team playing well at the moment and those playing deserve to be.”
Now, supporters could look towards the Blades to see how these absentees could affect their squad in the fixture and how this could affect the result of the game.
