Enda Stevens doubt, but Sheffield United will not make wholesale FA Cup changes, says Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder is unlikely to take any risks with left wing-back Enda Stevens's fitness in Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round FA Cup tie at Reading, but there will not be wholesale changes from Sheffield United.
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Stevens went off with a calf injury at half-time in the Premier League draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Although the Blades manager was not definitively ruling Stevens out, the fact his most obvious deputy, Ben Osborn, was next on press duties on Monday morning was a possible pointer that he will err on the side of safety ahead of Saturday's Premier League visit of Norwich City.

Sheffield United's Enda Stevens picked up a calf injury against Brighton and Hove AlbionSheffield United's Enda Stevens picked up a calf injury against Brighton and Hove Albion
Sheffield United's Enda Stevens picked up a calf injury against Brighton and Hove Albion
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“We've got a couple of injuries, we're waiting on Enda and a couple of others,” cautioned Wilder. “We won’t risk anyone but it’ll be a strong side we select, I believe it’ll be good enough to win a difficult cup tie.

“It's touch and go with Enda, he’ll be fit for Saturday if he misses Tuesday. No risks, that’s been our policy right the way through, if it’s worth taking a risk towards the back end of the season we’ll consider it but not here and not now. There's a lot to play for with what we can potentially achieve.”

Sad though it is to say, with European qualification an even stronger possibility now Manchester City's League Cup win, on top of their European ban for breaching financial fair play regulations, has opened up seventh place as a Europa League spot, the FA Cup is the Blades' second priority of two this season. Wilder has promised not to treat it that way.

“The attitude I wanted at the club since I walked through door is everything’s important, on and off pitch – intensity in training, pre-season games etc,” he insisted. “It's important we have that mentality running through club and it wasn’t.

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“Our record hasn’t been great in the FA Cup but we’ve changed the team around and when you do that, it does upset the balance and rhythm of the team. We saw at Millwall that we made changes but it wasn’t seven, eight and nine.

“We want to be successful in every competition we enter, we’re away at a Championship club and will be looked at as favourites and then anything can happen in the quarter-final. That’s our target, to get into the next round, but it’ll be a tough tie on the night. What gives me great confidence and comfort is the attitude of the group.

“Do I think it’ll be the same team that finished against Brighton? I don’t think so because of a couple of injuries but it’ll be close and a team I expect to go well.”

Wilder confirmed loanees Panagiotis Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic will be involved. Both are on loan until the end of the season and yet to make their debuts. Centre-back Retsos was on the bench against Bournemouth and Brighton, but it will be centre-forward Zivkovic's first involvement in a matchday squad since the pair joined on deadline day in January.

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“The new boys will be involved, they've been pushing hard but the form of Bash (Chris Basham) has been outstanding and we've got really good options at the top end of the pitch. The skipper (Billy Sharp) has been taking his chances with his all-round play and he’s a finisher too, David McGoldrick is coming back in, (Lys) Mousset… I have to make decisions.

“I'll be looking at what happens from Monday to Friday. It's easy sometimes to ask why he did that (of the manager's team selections) but a game is suited to some individuals sometimes.

“I'm not going to take a chance (selecting Retsos or Zivkovic) because I need to see them in a game, they get into the team through an opportunity, they have to earn the right.”

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