What Chris Wilder has said about Michael Cooper, Sheffield United situation - he hasn't been ruled out of QPR fixture | OneFootball

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has provided an injury update on Michael Cooper after the keeper was forced off in the defeat to Coventry City.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has refused to rule keeper Michael Cooper out of the weekend clash against QPR after he was forced off in the defeat to Coventry City on Tuesday night.

The former Plymouth stopper has been outstanding for the Blades since his arrival at the club, which included starring as they reached the play-off final last season.

Whilst he has been inconsistent in the current campaign, like most of his teammates, Cooper is the undisputed number one at Bramall Lane. Therefore, it was a real concern when he was replaced at half-time against the Sky Blues.

Chris Wilder provides Michael Cooper injury update following latest Sheffield United loss

That proved to be a significant moment as well, with Sheffield United leading by a goal at the break, but they conceded three times in the second half to fall to an 11th defeat of the season.

Even though replacement Adam Davies could do much with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s equaliser and Brandon Thomas-Asante’s stoppage time third, he will certainly feel he should’ve done more on Bobby Thomas’ crucial second goal for the hosts as he failed to deal with a corner.

So, all connected to the Blades will hope that Cooper’s injury isn’t a serious one, and there was some good news on that front as Wilder detailed his issue to the Sheffield Star, with the keeper seeming still in contention to play against QPR on Saturday.

“When he went down for one of the shots he saved early on, he tweaked his back and his neck. So he was in quite a bit of pain at half-time, and that obviously wasn't an ideal situation that we found ourselves in.

“We’ll work hard on him this week, do our best in the next 48 to 72 hours to get him right. But obviously, that wasn't a great situation to be in at half-time.”

Sheffield United’s big players must step up to end dismal run of form

Coventry away was always going to be a difficult fixture for Sheffield United, but ultimately it’s another defeat for Wilder’s side, who now have some work to do to get out of the bottom three.

Naturally, some will point the finger at the manager, even after he has returned, but the players must do more to get the club out of their awful position.

To do that, the big players must step up, and that’s why Wilder will be desperate to have Cooper available and in the starting XI against the R’s this weekend. Though defensively suspect under Julien Stephan, few can deny the attacking threat that QPR host and the Blades will be fearful of that - therefore, they will be desperate for Cooper to return to contention for this weekend.

He has shown his quality since he joined the club, and his absence after the break was felt last night, as, unfortunately for the Blades, Davies didn’t provide the same reassuring presence in goal.

So, it will be interesting to see if he does return in time, as Wilder will be demanding a big response from his side at Bramall Lane for this crucial clash.