The 5 players who could miss Sunderland v Sheffield United Championship play-off final | OneFootball

These players could be absent from this Saturday's Championship play-off final between Sunderland and Sheffield United.

One of the richest games in football takes place this Saturday, as Sunderland do battle with Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

Alongside a place in the 2025/26 Premier League season, the winner of this weekend's final will be set to receive a minimum of £220 million in extra income.

Therefore, having as full a strength squad as possible will be important as ever ahead of the big game. For Sheffield United, this is something that they have the luxury of having.

"Physically, we've got everybody available," Wilder said in his pre-match press conference, but they are still set to be without a key midfielder for Saturday's clash, whilst Sunderland's injury and doubts list seems to be longer.

Here is everybody set to be unavailable, or rumoured to be a doubt, for this Saturday's Championship play-off final.

Ollie Arblaster the only absentee for Sheffield United

Sheffield United's only major absentee comes in the form of Ollie Arblaster, a piece of news which won't surprise Blades fans after the promising 21-year-old suffered an ACL injury in November, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Jamie Shackleton missed the entirety of 2025 with a foot injury, but did make the bench in Sheffield United's 3-0 away first leg win over Bristol City, so will likely be available, but arguably not preferred by Wilder at this stage of the season.

"They're all knocking at the door, all putting their hand up to play," Wilder said in his pre-match press conference. "I've got a real good group of players that can produce big moments, keep clean sheets and play on the big stage."

Chris Wilder may have a slight selection headache this coming Saturday, but having no fresh injuries coming into the play-off final can only be a positive thing for Sheffield United's promotion chances.

DOUBT - Romaine Mundle

According to the Sunderland Echo, it is emerging that 22-year-old Romaine Mundle could be a major injury doubt for this Saturday's play-off final, after the winger did not train with his teammates in the days following the Black Cats' dramatic semi-final win over Coventry.

Mundle made his return to the side from the bench in that game, after missing the last six games of the season and the semi-final first leg too, due to a hamstring injury.

This was his second hamstring injury of the season, after one kept him out for three months between November and February, and, despite his involvement not being fully ruled out just yet, there is a distinct possibility that Enzo Le Fee will have to operate from the left yet again, after doing so in each of the semi-final legs.

DOUBT - Patrick Roberts

Regis Le Bris is also monitoring the availability of Patrick Roberts throughout the week, after the winger completed 90 minutes of the second leg despite facing a minor calf issue, per the Sunderland Echo.

Roberts' availability is more likely than Mundle's, which will come as a relief to Sunderland fans.

The 28-year-old has featured in all but one league game this season, and is one of the few players in the squad left over from their Wembley triumph in the League One play-off final win over Wycombe in 2022.

The winger picked up seven assists this season, tying his tally from two seasons ago, when Sunderland also featured in the Championship play-offs.

Sunderland's squad for the play-off final will likely look the same as it did for the play-off semi-final a week last Tuesday if the likes of Mundle and Roberts can pass their fitness tests.

Aji Alese has been planned to return to training this week by Regis Le Bris, too, so the 24-year-old could feature for the first time since breaking his leg in January's win over Portsmouth.

Two men who won't feature, though, will be Jayden Danns and Niall Huggins, who both haven't made an appearance this season.

Liverpool loanee Danns was knowingly injured when brought in by Sunderland on the winter deadline day in February, with the hope that he could feature towards the end of the season and in the play-offs. However, his season was confirmed to be over by Regis Le Bris in late April.

Niall Huggins hasn't played a game for Sunderland since suffering a knee injury in December 2023, and his recovery will continue over the summer.

The 24-year-old signed a new contract with Sunderland last October, however. So he is clearly in the club's long-term plans for when he gets back fit again, but don't expect his first appearance in 17 months to be in the biggest game of the season.