'Everything has gone as well as it can' for Basham

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom says there's no reason why Chris Basham won't return from the injury he sustained before the international break.

The 35 year-old fractured his ankle in the Blades' defeat to Fulham in their last game before the break. Due to the severity of the injury and Basham's age (35), there has been questions about whether he will be able to return to football.

"One thing to say about Bash [Chris Basham], everyone knows how naturally fit he is," Heckingbottom told the media ahead of Saturday night's Premier League match against Manchester United.

"He is blessed with really good endurance. He will come back fit as a fiddle, that won't take long. The surgeons are really happy with the work they have done, so there is no reason whatsoever.

"No one at all is thinking that way, especially not Bash.

"Everything has gone as well as it can. With an injury of that nature, everyone thinks of it because of how freakish it was and how horrible it looks. But you still get surgery and treated the same way.

"He is still in hospital. He is going crazy inside those four walls. He has had a couple of operations that were needed. Hopefully he will be getting home to his family in the next few days."

Heckingbottom also confirmed two other Blades players, John Egan and Tom Davies, have undergone surgery.

Egan suffered an Achilles injury at Craven Cottage and Davis hurt his thigh in training.

Heckingbottom added: "They are going to be out for a long time until they are back fit. John was in the game, he was jumping for a header.

"Tom, it was literally the last kick of the ball in training and he hurt his thigh, so it was a bad week for us."

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