"Just be warned" - Exclusive: Sky pundit sends cautious Sheffield United message involving Ollie Arblaster | OneFootball

Ollie Arblaster is still recovering from a lengthy ACL injury sustained last November

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Don Goodman has issued a warning to Sheffield United regarding the immediate availability of Ollie Arblaster once the midfielder returns from a long-term injury layoff amid recent recovery developments.

The current Championship campaign couldn't have gotten off to a worse possible start for those connected to this side of the Steel City, with the Blades still winless in all competitions following Saturday afternoon's dramatic defeat to newly-promoted Charlton Athletic at Bramall Lane.

Despite it being Chris Wilder's homecoming to S2 after he was reappointed United boss for the third time following the disastrous spell endured by his predecessor, Ruben Selles, the Addicks didn't read the script and punished a lacklustre performance from the home side with Isaac 'Tanto' Olaofe's 94th-minute winner in front of the travelling support.

With the 58-year-old left rather unimpressed with what he saw from a mixture of new faces signed during the summer and plenty of the squad he had at his disposal that reached the second tier play-off final just four months ago, it begs the question as to where the Blades go from here.

However, one man who is powerless at this moment in time is the highly-rated local talent of Arblaster, who has been sidelined ever since United's 1-0 victory in the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane last November, suffering an unfortunate ACL injury that he is still yet to recover from.

Yet, despite there being recent contrasting updates and comments regarding the midfielder's situation, Goodman has urged the aforementioned Wilder to err on the side of caution when the 21-year-old is fit enough to feature in the first team once again.

As previously mentioned, the Sheffield-born midfield lynchpin has been out of action for 10 months as he recovers from the severe ACL issue sustained in the first half against the Owls on November 10th last year.

It was reported earlier in the month, prior to the latest managerial change at Bramall Lane, that Arblaster had suffered a setback that would delay his return by a further two months, with it looking like the earliest possible return date would be nigh on a year after the injury was accumulated.

However, addressing the media prior to Saturday's defeat to Charlton, Wilder denied that such developments weren't as significant a blow to his short-term prospects as first made out.

“I've got to say, I think more of it was made,” he said. “He just had a little bit of fluid on his knee that we should just have to manage and, by the way, that's because he wants to get back. So the handling of him is really important.

Regardless, Goodman exclusively told Football League World that he and the supporters must be patient with Arblaster once he does return to the squad.

"I don't know what the latest is on Ollie Arblaster, or how soon he'll be back playing," the pundit admitted. "I know there was a little bit of a setback a few weeks ago in his rehab.

"Sheffield United need all the good news they can get at the moment," Goodman stated. "It's just been dire. The Chris Wilder homecoming didn't go how everybody connected with Sheffield United hoped or anticipated.

"There's no doubt about it, Ollie Arblaster is a quality young player," he added. "But just be warned, it will take time for him to get up to speed and get that match sharpness and find his rhythm again.

"When you've been out that long, it's not that you get fit and you're off and running instantly.

"They shouldn't be pinning all their hopes on him, but it certainly will give the place a massive lift."

Ollie Arblaster can make a major difference to Sheffield United's fortunes at full capacity

As Goodman stated, it would be an extremely questionable stance for the club to take by pinning the changing of said fortunes on Arblaster's return from injury, especially as the current players available to Wilder must take some portion of accountability for the predicament in which they currently find themselves.

However, the former Port Vale loanee will certainly have a big part to play when fully fit, whenever that turns out to be the case.

Wilder clearly has full faith in the midfielder too, having previously handed the academy graduate the captain's armband during the club's relegation season from the Premier League, before forming a strong central midfield partnership with ex-Blade Vini Souza prior to his injury.

The boyhood Blade will certainly be eagerly anticipating his return as he has been powerless to their cause for some time, especially as they look to shoot up the table with there still being 40 matches remaining.