Sheffield United: Late check on defender ahead of Hull City game
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Speaking ahead of the visit to the MKM Stadium, Heckingbottom indicated Baldock is the only new addition to a casualty list which already includes the likes of Bill Sharp, Ben Osborn and Ciaran Clark following Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Reading - a result which saw United prepare for the contest in East Yorkshire on top of the Championship table.
Although Heckingbottom did not substitute Baldock towards the end of that game because of the blow he took to his back, United’s manager confirmed during his pre-match media conference that the injury had worsened since.
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Hide AdBut he said: “George hasn’t trained but I’m hoping he will be fine. It reacted and went tight. But we’re hoping he’ll be okay.”
Asked if United could be without any more of the players who dispatched Paul Ince’s side, Heckingbottom added: “No. There’s nothing new.”
That suggests in-form striker Oli McBurnie will be available for selection against City, having scored two goals in his last two outings for United. McBurnie hobbled out of the meeting with Reading after taking a blow to a leg. But Heckingbottom appeared to confirm he is fit when addressing the media less than 48 hours ago.
"We’re getting ready for a tough game,” said Heckingbottom, who is also without Adam Davies, Enda Stevens and Jack Robinson. “But we want to impose ourselves on it and, as I’ve always maintained, when we’re at our best we tend to get a result.”