West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United: Latest injury highlights Chris Wilder's January priority
Chris Wilder has asked Sheffield United's board to provide him with more midfield strength in the January transfer window after an injury to Sydie Peck further reduced his numbers there.
Peck will not feature at West Bromwich Albion on Friday, and Wilder was very coy about the nature or extent of the injury.
But Jairo Riedewald will return from illness, as will left-back Sam McCallum. Centre-back Mark McGuinness has recovered from an ankle injury.
With injuries a constant of Tom Davies' Bramall Lane career, no Riedewald or Peck forced Oliver Arblaster to return from cruciate knee ligament damage from the start of Tuesday’s game at home to Norwich City (alongside Djibril Soumare) and highlighted an area of concern.
"We were a bit short in the middle," said Wilder. "No disrespect to the two young boys but they've not played a lot of Championship football, and I thought that showed.
"That was something highlighted at a meeting with the board on Wednesday. It (Tuesday's draw) exposed and highlighted, in my opinion, the (reason for the) recommendations that we've put forward.
"It's not bringing five, six, and seven players, just a turnover of players that I think can improve us into January."
Much has been made, including by the owners, of a more artificial intelligence-led approach to recruitment since COH Sport bought the Blades in the run-up to last Christmas. There were suggestions disagreements over summer recruitment plans were a factor in sacking Wilder in June, only to reinstate him in September.
Asked what the process was now from his perspective, the manager explained: "I present to the board and they discuss it and I'm on that (discussion), which I'm delighted to be involved in. I think I can give a balanced, honest view of what the club's about and what we need.
"It was great to speak to the guys and they were very supportive of what we're doing and I believe they will be very supportive in January.
"I'd like to think we'll suggest some good players so it's a collaboration to get it right. I'm sure we can be really positive and enthusiastic about bringing some good players to the football club.
"(But) I'm not putting pressure on anybody. If it is the same, it is the same. The board that own the club direct the way we're going to go."
As for what Wilder will be looking for from the "three or four" signings he will ask for, he stressed: "Competition for places is key, (as is) experience, balance, pace, big moments, clean sheets, midfield players from a physical point of view.
"Femi (Seriki) needs competition in there (at right-back), because you've seen we've not got any competition for Femi and it is a position that we need to strengthen in."
Arblaster and Tahith Chong have recovered well from their first games after injury lay-offs on Tuesday. Arblaster was playing for the first time since November 2024, Chong back from tearing meniscus cartilage in his knee in September.
"We're really surprised how he's come through the 60 minutes," said Wilder of Arblaster. "He wanted to stay on, which there was no way he was going to do. We expected him to be battered, bruised, fatigued and whatever, but he's come through."