The striker became his club’s 11th senior absentee when he damaged his groin in the first half of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United, playing on until being forced to accept defeat early in the second half.

Chris Basham (ankle), John Egan (ankle) and Tom Davies (thigh) underwent surgery in the international break, when Anel Ahmedhodzic (thigh) joined George Baldock (calf), Adam Davies (knee), Will Osula (muscular), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) and Max Lowe (ankle) in the treatment room. Daniel Jebbison has been out since August with illness.

"I've never experienced it before and the injuries, they're so freakish, out of the blue," said striker McBurnie. "A lot aren't muscle injuries, just random ones and no-one has a clue why they're happening.

"TD (Tom Davies) is just getting back to fitness and looking so good in training, the boys are excited to get him involved and then that happens. Eags (Egan) just goes up for a header, Bash (Basham) just lands funny... when your luck's out it's out.

"But one thing I love about this club is that it's a team full of men. I look around and there are warriors around me, there are boys who are with me 100 per cent and will stick together no matter the circumstances or the situation.

"I think you saw that on Saturday, the boys are giving everything and no-one can say otherwise. We'll keep giving everything until we make it work."

Winless and four points adrift of safety just nine matches into the Premier League season, the Blades are at Arsenal on Saturday, hoping for a change of fortune.

Oli McBurnie promises Sheffield United 'warriors' will fight through period of freak injuries