Sheffield United travel to Lancashire this Saturday afternoon to take on Blackburn Rovers, but both teams are going to be without key defensive players.
The Blades have been excellent at the back since Harry Souttar and Anel Ahmedhodzic paired up to protect Michael Cooper’s goal, however, Chris Wilder will be forced into a change after Ahmedhodzic picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during United’s comfortable 2-0 win over Stoke City last Saturday afternoon, at Bramall Lane. This will likely see Jack Robinson return to the starting eleven for the first time since mid-August.
Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers face a setback in their Championship campaign as defender Hayden Carter, 24, is expected to be out for the next two to three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury. The injury was sustained during Rovers’ recent goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion, and his absence will leave the club with limited options in defence.
Carter, who has been a consistent presence on the Rovers’ backline since his senior debut, has made 97 appearances for the club across all competitions. Known for his versatility and reliability, he has played an essential role in Rovers’ defence. Head coach John Eustace acknowledged the loss as a “big blow” for the team, praising Carter’s contributions to Blackburn’s recent success.
Eustace noted that Carter has been a key player since his own arrival last season, especially due to the defender’s ability to cover multiple roles in the backline. He told the club’s media, “When I came in last season, Hayden came into the team and did very well. He’s started this season and has done very well playing in a number of positions,” Eustace commented. Despite the setback, he expressed confidence in the team’s depth, stating, “We’ve lost Hayden now, and it’s time for somebody else to step up and be the man, which is what the squad’s all about.”
With Carter sidelined, Blackburn’s defensive lineup will rely on Dominic Hyam, Danny Batth, and Kyle McFadzean as the clubs only central defensive options.
Forgotten Sheffield United midfielder edging closer to return
On a positive note for the visitors, Tom Davies is ticking along nicely in his mini pre-season; the central midfielder has started the last two games for United’s development team, and has been substituted at half-time in both of them, with the club managing his minutes. He will likely see more minutes in United’s U21’s next fixture versus Hull City next Tuesday afternoon.
The 26-year-old could be close to a return to the first team bench in the coming weeks. Perhaps the Steel City derby might come too soon for him, but the likely scenario is that he’ll be back after this upcoming international break.
