No Oliver Arblaster as Sheffield United seek to mould new-look team quickly
Ruben Selles will have to mould a Sheffield United team from the players assembled in a busy end to the transfer window without Oliver Arblaster after an injury setback for the midfielder.
It had been hoped Arblaster would come into the group around now, with September's international break earmarked for his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. But the Sheffield-born player has suffered a setback.
The Blades are wisely not committing to a new timetable, but it will be another couple of months at least before Arblaster is back in the Championship.
"A setback some weeks ago has delayed his joining the team at least for another month-and-a-half or two months," confirmed Selles.
"The first thing we need is him training with the team and healthy. Then, probably, we need to test him in some under-21 games. Hopefully it is earlier than Christmas."
Selles has scope for five debuts at Ipswich Town on Friday, though with plentiful options and some having been away on international duty, it is likely to be fewer.
"It has been a big turnaround, especially six players in the last seven days," he said. "I think it was 18 (deals) in total in the last 10 days of the window, with some going.
"We wanted to be able to do it a little bit earlier, but it is what it is.
"We are satisfied with the end (result), but also we know a good transfer window is going to be dictated by what we do from now."
As the only Championship team still to take a point there is no scope for new players to feel their way in.
"We don't have time to make excuses, we will just try to win the next match," said Selles.
"We are clear in the direction and how we adjust things.
"We don't have time to take the next two games as the next pre-season. We need to be simple and clear in our ideas."
The Blades report no fresh injuries, and expect Tom Davies back in full training next week with a view to putting himself in contention to face Charlton Athletic.