Sheffield United dealt frustrating Ollie Arblaster news - it is a problem for £15k-a-week man | OneFootball

Blades’ difficult start worsens with extended implications for Callum O’Hare

Sheffield United’s disastrous start to the 25/26 Championship season has claimed its first casualty.

Five games, five defeats, and a humiliating 5-0 loss to Ipswich Town on Friday night proved to be the final straw for Ruben Selles, who was sacked on Sunday afternoon.

Chris Wilder is now heavily touted to return to Bramall Lane as Selles' replacement - a move that would be a dramatic homecoming for a manager still revered by much of the fanbase.

The scale of Friday's defeat at Portman Road laid bare the extent of United's problems. For a side that had already failed to register a single point in their opening four fixtures, it was the breaking point that United's hierarchy could no longer ignore.

Central to the Blades' struggles is the prolonged absence of Ollie Arblaster. The 21 year old midfielder, sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November 2024, has suffered another setback.

What was initially hoped to be an August return, then September, has now been pushed back until November at the earliest.

The frustration lies not only in the extended timeline, but also in the fact that Arblaster had emerged as one of the few academy graduates capable of anchoring United’s midfield with composure and control.

His absence has been a constant theme throughout the disastrous start.

Why Ollie Arblaster’s absence changes Callum O’Hare’s role for the worse

The implications of Arblaster’s injury reached beyond Selles’ short-term selection headaches. His absence affected the balance of United’s 4-3-3 system, particularly the roles of Callum O’Hare.

O’Hare, on a reported £15,000 per week as per estimates from Capology, is at his best when given freedom to roam as a creative number ten.

Yet without a natural central midfielder like Arblaster, Selles had been forced to use O’Hare in a deeper role, often as an eight charged with covering more defensive ground than suits his profile.

The data underlines the compromise. In his first five games, O’Hare has created four chances, provided one assist, and recorded an expected assist of 1.15 - respectable output for a player adjusting to a new position.

But his attacking contribution was being diluted by the extra responsibilities he has had to shoulder for the Blades. Just 16 touches in the opposition box from 249 total reflects a player spending more time in build-up than in dangerous areas.

A fit Arblaster, with his capacity to retain possession and recycle play, would allow O’Hare to push higher and operate closer to the final third, where his creativity is most valuable. Without him, the balance remains skewed.

Ollie Arblaster setback is a huge problem for Sheffield United

United’s midfield has been crying out for stability. The team lacks a reliable pivot who can shield the defence while enabling more advanced players to flourish.

Tom Davies is nearing a return, but questions remain over his ability to consistently influence games in the way Arblaster had begun to before his injury.

Arblaster’s setback has proved doubly damaging because it left the Blades caught between tactical compromise and blunt execution.

With O’Hare limited in his deeper role, United lost both the sharp edge of their new signing and the calming presence of their homegrown midfielder. It was the worst of both worlds.

For Selles, under scrutiny that ultimately proved fatal after five consecutive defeats, the situation became unsurmountable. The manager’s attempts to bed in a new system was hampered by injuries, fragile confidence and the absence of a player who might have been the key to unlocking a more balanced, competitive midfield.

The reality is stark: without Arblaster, Sheffield United were left short in both structure and creativity. For a team that capitulated 5-0 and still searching for their first points, it was a problem that cost Selles his job and may yet prove challenging for any incoming manager - even one of Wilder's pedigree,