Heckingbottom on Basham, injuries and facing Man Utd
- Published
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has been speaking to the press before Saturday's Premier League home game against Manchester United.
Here are the main headlines from his media conference:
Chris Basham remains in hospital after two operations on the serious ankle injury he sustained at Fulham before the international break, but is likely to be allowed home "in the next few days".
Heckingbottom reflected on a "shocking week" of injuries, with John Egan (Achilles) and Tom Davies (thigh) also both having surgery on issues that will keep them out "for a long time".
On where those absences leave his squad, Heckingbottom said: "Because we were behind in terms of squad numbers when we started the season, I felt we were getting to a point where we'd made signings before the end of the window, one or two needed to get up to speed, and we were getting there. In the last international break we got three injuries and we've just got these three. It's sort of put us back to square one and if we're honest it's far from ideal."
However, Heckingbottom said those injuries provide chances for other players to shine: "We've had moments last season where it was similar, so it's an opportunity for others and we have to use that determination. The boys who are getting the opportunities have to be determined to stay in the team. What's hurting us is the length of these injuries and unfortunately there's nothing we can do about that until January."
On facing Manchester United and what a victory would do for morale at the club: "It's three points. We know what we're in for this season and we're up for that fight. We're going to be in our own little league at the bottom and that's fine, unless we can change that around by positive results. It [a win] changes the mood and is reward for the effort of the players. We'll be fighting and giving it all we can to get those three points."
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