Championship - Team News: Blades wait on trio

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 15:06:00 2009

Sheffield United have injury concerns over three players ahead of the Championship play-off final against Burnley.

FOOTBALL; Darius Henderson, Sheffield United - 0

Striker Darius Henderson (pictured) and on-loan midfielder John-Joe O'Toole are both struggling with Achilles problems and face a race against time to recover to face Owen Coyle's side.

Former Chesterfield striker Jamie Ward is also rated as doubtful with a hamstring injury.

All three missed the Blades' victory over Preston in the second leg of the semi-final at Bramall Lane and Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will give them until the last minute to prove their fitness.

Blackwell is likely to persist with playing on-loan full-back Greg Halford as an emergency striker following his match-winning goal against Preston last time out.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle will choose from a full-strength squad as they bid to return to the top flight for the first time in 33 years.

Coyle must decide whether to include former Manchester United winger Chris Eagles in the starting line-up after he was only a substitute in the 2-0 win at Reading in the play-off semi-final second leg.

Coyle may opt to play Martin Paterson as a lone striker, but Steven Thompson will hope to keep his place after both men scored stunning goals at the Madejski Stadium.

The Clarets have prepared for the winner-takes-all clash by spending a three-day training camp in Portugal.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Good luck Burnley. Would be great to see a decent­ family club with great traditions get promoted. Oh, and­ keeping the Blades down would be great too.

    Yours,­
    Owls Fan.

    From Bry, on Mon 25 May 2:50PM

  2. 20 mins to kick off, and only 12 comments! Hardly­ Premiership stuff, is it?

    From TruthRaider, on Mon 25 May 2:38PM

  3. come on Blades, you can do it, for all your supporters­ who have travelled down to Wembley

    From englishguy21, on Mon 25 May 1:49PM

  4. BURNLEY WINS 3-0

    From rafascrackingup, on Mon 25 May 1:17PM

  5. @#$% up sheffield i. c .f .are ready to welcome you­ back scum

    From terry, on Mon 25 May 12:51PM

  6. Go Dingles

    From Steve WWFC, on Mon 25 May 12:34PM

  7. Personally, I think it all depends on how fresh Burnley­ are

    From hamilton.antony, on Mon 25 May 12:31PM

  8. come on blades we can do it

    From c.ortton, on Mon 25 May 12:23PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @#$% on u f**in burnley beat the scum of sheffield­

    sheffield wednesday all the way

    From andy_turton, on Mon 25 May 12:15PM

  10. Don't worry, if the Blades lose they can always­ take out a law suit against Burnley for beating them. ­ COME ON BURNLEY.

    From Stephen, on Mon 25 May 11:27AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    a b c d e­ f g h i jhzxdhgfzx

    From BETHANY, on Mon 25 May 11:17AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From sexyfishfghh, on Mon 25 May 8:54AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account