"A huge blow" - Reaction given to Ollie Arblaster news at Sheffield United | OneFootball

The 20-year-old missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Derby County.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sheffield United have been brilliant since relegation from the Premier League, and despite a two-point deduction, they have already found their way into the play-off places.

Derby County were the most recent victims in Chris Wilder's side's unbeaten start to the Championship season, with Gustavo Hamer's wonderful free kick the difference between the two sides at Bramall Lane.

However, it was 90 minutes in which the Blades had to cope without one of their brightest young sparks, Ollie Arblaster, after he sustained an ankle injury the day before Sheffield United hosted the Rams.

The 20-year-old had played every minute of the campaign before the issue occurred, but there is not yet any knowledge of how long he could be out for.

Arblaster's injury is a nightmare for Sheffield United

Since returning to the Blades following a very impressive loan spell in League One with Port Vale, Arblaster has been a regular in the team.

He started Sheffield United'sfinal 10 games of the Premier League season, even captaining the side on occasions in the top flight, before taking the armband as a permanent fixture in 2024/25.

He scored his first goal in the red-and-white of United on the opening night of the new Championship campaign, before adding his second just two weeks later.

It has been his early season performances that make him such a huge miss for Wilder, and Football League World's Sheffield United Fan Pundit, Jimmy from Blades Ramble, is worried about any potential long-term injury.

"Losing Ollie Arblaster would be a huge blow," he started. "He’s our captain for starters, which just shows how much the manager and the club have faith in him as a player and as a leader.

"Some of the issues we've had and some of the concerns we've got as a club is our depth in and around the squad. I think the first XI is as good as any to compete, but after 13/14 players we'll start to struggle."

Jimmy continued: "Sydie Peck has done an ideal job coming and stepping in for Arblaster in the last game. But in all honesty, we'll need one of our better players back as soon as possible, and I wouldn't want to go into the Leeds United game without Arblaster available.

"We can probably cope until the international break, but he's such a big player for us. We need him back fit."

Wilder must work a way round Arblaster's absence

The Blades were able to get past Derby on Saturday, but it was a game that required a moment of excellence from Hamer to find a winner, with the Rams being their typically resolute selves.

Sheffield United missed their 20-year-old ace in midfield, and at times they perhaps lacked the cutting edge that he can provide, but there were promising signs from another youngster on his debut.

Sydie Peck struggled to get into the game in the first half at Bramall Lane, but he took it by the scruff of the neck in the second 45.

The former Wales U18 international impressed, and has put his name in the hat to replace Arblaster in the meantime, but Wilder and the United supporters will be hoping for the return of their young midfielder soon.