Chris Wilder handed big problem at Sheffield United - could it kill off any play-off dream? | OneFootball

Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper is expected to miss the rest of the season with a 'unique' injury

Sheffield United's recent resurgence up the Championship table under the guidance of Chris Wilder has likely come too late to sustain a real push for the top six, though this recent news is sure to make their chances all the more difficult.

It has been a difficult season at Sheffield United thus far, with the Blades falling well below pre-season expectations, especially in the early stages of the campaign.

Ruben Selles replaced Chris Wilder following their play-off final defeat to Sunderland, though the Spaniard would last just six games in charge, all ending in defeat, before he too was axed and subsequently replaced by Wilder once more.

The summer transfer window was already over by the time Wilder returned to the helm, leaving the Blades veteran with numerous signings that weren't his, but still a lot that were.

One of those was goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who joined the club in the summer of 2024 from Plymouth Argyle to become the club's undisputed number one between the sticks.

Cooper has impressed ever since his arrival, especially in his inaugural campaign at Bramall Lane, though this latest revelation involving the 26-year-old is sure to have a detrimental effect on Sheffield United's promotion hopes.

Michael Cooper is set to miss the rest of the season with an injury, which is a huge blow for Sheffield United

In what can only be described as a massive blow for Sheffield United, goalkeeper Cooper is set to miss the rest of the season due to an injury, as confirmed by manager Wilder.

When asked about the extent of the injury, Wilder said, "Coops felt something on Wednesday night and he rocked up Thursday morning with a load of swelling around his knee.

"He went for a scan and it's a really unique injury, from speaking to the doctor. It was something around the back of his knee.

"Then we've looked back at the footage of the game and we can see what's happened. But it's a unique one, really, and a frustrating one.

"But he's out for 12 weeks now, which obviously takes him into pre-season. But he's okay for pre-season, there's no surgery needed. He just needs to rehab, rest and naturally heal."

With Cooper set to miss up to three months with this fresh injury, it means the backup keeper, Adam Davies, will be thrust into action, as he was for their away clash with Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory.

Nevertheless, Cooper's injury is far from ideal for the Blades, whose hopes of a promotion push have taken a huge dent in the process.

They currently find themselves nine points off the top six as things stand with 13 games remaining, and will have to see some incredible form as well as teams surrounding them dropping points if they are to make up that ground.

Without Cooper between the sticks, their job becomes all the more tricky, as though Davies is more than capable as a backup, his lack of game time over the years may have a negative effect.

Cooper's absence is far from ideal for Chris Wilder, but it may not be the end of Sheffield United's promotion push

Indeed, last season, Cooper was one of the division's outstanding goalkeepers, with the Englishman preventing 5.67 goals across the campaign for the Blades, as per FotMob.

The towering 26-year-old managed to keep 21 clean sheets and was the best in the league when it came to claiming crosses, completing 59 high claims across the season, the highest in the division.

However, this season his form has seen a major drop-off, with Cooper having conceded 6.75 goals more than expected, as per FotMob, one of the worst in the division.

Although he is still one of the best at claiming high balls in the division, his staggering drop off has had an obvious effect on the team's position in the table.

There is no doubting that, on his day, Cooper is among one of the best goalkeepers in the division, but his poor form across the campaign cannot be ignored, and though his injury is far from ideal, it could be a blessing in disguise for the Blades.

Davies, now 33, last played consistently during the 2018/19 season with Barnsley, as he has acted as a backup at both Stoke City and now Sheffield United, having joined the Blades in January 2022.

Time will tell just how big an effect Cooper's injury will have, but as things stand, all indications lead to the fact that his absence shouldn't rule them out of a place in the top six just yet - even if their ambitions have now been handed an undoubted fresh blow.