Sheffield United’s season finally produced a moment worth cheering after their dominant 3-0 victory over rivals Sheffield Wednesday — but even that high has been dampened by yet another harsh injury setback. Chris Wilder has confirmed that midfielder Tom Davies, already plagued by bad luck since arriving at Bramall Lane, is facing another spell on the sidelines.
Davies, who has endured a stop-start career with the Blades because of persistent fitness problems, was a noticeable omission from the squad at Hillsborough. Now Wilder has revealed that the midfielder has suffered a fresh blow after aggravating his calf injury, leaving him out for “two or three weeks” at a crucial time in the campaign.
Speaking to The Star, Wilder admitted his frustration:
“Yeah, he’s had a setback. He pulled out of training a couple of weeks ago with his calf. That’s obviously not great for us. It’ll be two or three weeks, which is a big blow. Tom’s been good and influential every time he’s got on the pitch.”
It’s another gut punch for Davies, whose Sheffield United journey has mirrored the injury troubles that once stalled his progress at Everton. Since joining the Blades in the summer of 2023, he’s managed just 30 appearances — a number far below what his quality could have delivered if he’d stayed healthy.
Fully fit, Davies offers leadership, energy, and experience to a squad crying out for stability. But once again, he’s been denied the chance to build momentum and hold down a regular place in Wilder’s midfield.
With a packed festive schedule ahead, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Blades need every available body as they push to salvage their season, and the coaching staff will have no choice but to handle Davies with extra caution to avoid a longer-term absence stretching into 2026.
Who steps up in the midfield now?
With Davies sidelined, Wilder turned to Sadie Peck and Jairo Riedewald to anchor the midfield in the derby win. Djibril Soumare and Gustavo Hamer both provided strong cameos from the bench, and that quartet will carry the bulk of the load in the coming weeks.
Alex Matos is itching for a breakthrough chance, while Oliver Arblaster continues to battle back from his own injury issues. Andre Brooks is another option — though typically used out wide or in an advanced role, he can fill in deeper if needed.
The Blades may have enjoyed a memorable derby win, but Wilder’s relief is tempered by the loss of Davies once again. For a player who has shown flashes of influence every time he steps on the pitch, this latest setback feels especially cruel — and a reminder that Sheffield United’s injury problems are far from over.
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