Blades Manager Gives Insight Into Watford Spell And Team News Ahead of Hornets Kick-off | OneFootball

Sheffield United travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon to face Watford in a Sky Bet Championship clash.

The Hornets’ faint hopes of a late push into the play-off places have all but faded after a poor run of form, collecting just two points from their last five outings. That slump has left them 11 points adrift of sixth place, though only three points separate them from Sheffield United.

United, meanwhile, showed resilience last weekend in their comeback victory over Hull City. A red card for former Blade John Lundstram shifted momentum late on, allowing Chris Wilder’s side to turn the game around in the final ten minutes. It was a result that the Blades will hope can spark momentum as they begin to look toward a significant summer rebuild.

Watford could once again be without full-backs Jeremy Ngakia and Marc Bola, while promising youngster Rocco Vata has endured an injury-hit campaign after early flashes of potential.

For United, Tyrese Campbell, Michael Cooper and Sam McCallum are all ruled out for the remainder of the season. However, there is cautious optimism that loanee Kalvin Phillips could yet feature before the campaign concludes as he continues his recovery.

Sheffield United Boss Reflects on Spell At Watford

Speaking ahead of the fixture in his pre-match press conference, Blades boss Chris Wilder reflected on his brief spell in charge of Watford and the challenge they pose.

“I managed there for 10 games, it was a great experience for me,” Wilder said. “They’ve got a lot of extremely talented players. Their inconsistency over the last few seasons has probably held them back, but they’re always a team that can hurt you with top individuals in attacking areas.”

Chris Wilder Provides Team News Update

Wilder confirmed there are no fresh injury concerns in his squad and highlighted Phillips’ determination to return before the season ends.

“He’s still battling on and that’s a testament to his desire to play,” Wilder added. “He’s involved every day, in meetings and around the group. There’s a real desire to get him back on the pitch.”

The United manager also explained recent defensive changes, praising Mark McGuinness for his performances after returning to the side.

“Mark’s come back in because we felt we needed to freshen things up,” Wilder said. “He’s been really good, both in training and in matches. He’s got a strong personality and deserves his place in the team.”