Sheffield United Boss Urges He Needs “Two or Three” Signings in January As Squad Depth Set To Be Tested | OneFootball

Sheffield United will return to Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening, marking their first home match since the unforgettable Steel City derby victory. The Blades welcome Oxford United, a club with ties to their current manager Chris Wilder.

Last Saturday, United battled hard to secure a point in a 2-2 draw with Coventry City, despite playing the entire second half with ten men following Anel Ahmedhodzic’s red card. The defensive reshuffle forced Wilder into tough decisions, and his squad’s resilience shone through.

Reflecting on the match, Wilder stated in his press conference, “I do believe we would’ve won the game with 11 men,” highlighting the team’s strong performance under challenging circumstances.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Chris Wilder, Manager of Sheffield United, reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC at Bramall Lane on November 10, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

Sheffield United Could Be Forced Into Reshuffling Team Against Oxford United

Tuesday’s quick turnaround presents a selection headache for Wilder. Ahmedhodzic’s suspension will see Jack Robinson step into the backline alongside Harry Souttar. However, the challenges don’t stop there:

Gustavo Hamer is a doubt after being substituted early in the second half against Coventry. Tyrese Campbell also faces uncertainty due to a tight hamstring, which saw him replaced before halftime. Oliver Arblaster has been sidelined with what could be a season-ending ACL injury, a significant blow to the squad. And Vinicius Souza was hobbling around for the final ten minutes of the game against Coventry which could lead to him being rested.

Should Campbell be ruled out, Wilder may look to the returning Kieffer Moore or Rhian Brewster to bolster the attack. Both players have resumed training and will be assessed before the game.

Chris Wilder on Financial Takeover Uncertainty

Amid the backdrop of a potential financial takeover, Wilder has praised the club’s focus and professionalism. “I think we all deserve credit for not letting that get in the way of how we work,” he said, via The Star.

Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Wilder emphasised the importance of strengthening the squad, particularly in light of recent injuries. “I’d like to think we will be able to do some business in January,” he noted, pointing out the availability of two loan slots as a promising opportunity.

“So when it does happen [the takeover] or if it doesn’t – but definitely for January, we need to strengthen, especially with losing [Oliver] Arblaster [to a potentially season-ending ACL injury.] And without being clever, we understand that some injuries have happened and we were never going to be a group that doesn’t suffer with that. Everybody does, and it’s important that when we do, we have a strong group and strong bench.”

“For me, we don’t need four, five, or six [signings], but we do need two or three to bolster, and I’d like to think we’d get that opportunity,” Wilder added.

After Saturday’s hard-fought point at Coventry City, the Blades dropped to third in the league following Leeds United’s 4-3 victory over Swansea City. Leeds now sit top of the league, but Sunderland in second, and the Blades, are all level on 32 points. A win under the lights at Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening could potentially see the Blades leapfrog their promotion rivals into first.