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Paul Heckingbottom hints at Sheffield United formation change

Paul Heckingbottom hints at Sheffield United formation change
© Reuters
The Blades used a midfield diamond in the second half against Arsenal and face Wolves this weekend.

Interim boss Paul Heckingbottom thinks it would be "foolish" of him not to consider a change of formation for Sheffield United's game at Wolves as injuries begin to bite at Bramall Lane.

The Blades were dealt a double injury blow this week with the news that Oli McBurnie and Billy Sharp will miss the rest of the season.

McBurnie fractured a bone in his foot during the defeat to Arsenal while fellow striker and club captain Sharp has undergone surgery on a thigh problem sustained in training.

John Fleck is a doubt ahead of the trip to Molineux, where the Blades' inevitable relegation could be confirmed on Saturday night. The midfielder has not been able to train this week because of a stiff groin.

Meanwhile, Heckingbottom remains without Sander Berge, Chris Basham, Jack Robinson and Jack Rodwell.

Heckingbottom switched the midfield to a diamond shape for the second half of last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal but it saw the Blades improve, and the 43-year-old may employ the same tactic against Wolves.

"If you can't change the personnel, the system you can change, and we'd be foolish not to look at it," said Heckingbottom.

"In terms of debriefing the games, I think we've had a bit of everything. We had chances in the Chelsea game, we certainly had the physical output in the Leeds game but we were open in certain ways.

"Against Arsenal we didn't create enough, I thought, even though we had more of the ball in the second half. We're always looking to improve and being able to change the shape is something we could possibly do.

"We seem to get one back and lose two at the minute, that's just the way it is and tends to be when things don't go your way.

"We've had many discussions about what comes first, is it poor results lead to injuries or injuries lead to poor results?"

The Blades head into the weekend's round of fixtures bottom of the table and 18 points adrift of safety with seven matches remaining. They could be even further detached by the time they kick-off at Molineux on Saturday night.

Heckingbottom knows getting the result they may need in order to prolong their Premier League survival will not be easy.

"They've got the threats with the pace of someone like (Adama) Traore and they have a different dimension to them compared to last season," said Heckingbottom.

"We know they can be really creative but also really frugal in giving nothing away. They've changed shape in a couple of games so we have to be prepared for everything they throw at us. They pose threats all over the pitch."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds27168351193256
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27176438172155
3Burnley27141123192253
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2712693124742
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27914433221141
7Middlesbrough27118844341041
8Watford27125103837141
9Bristol City2791083331237
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds27107103843-537
11Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
12Queens Park RangersQPR2781183034-435
13Swansea CitySwansea2797113033-334
14Coventry CityCoventry2788113537-232
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2788113041-1132
16Preston North EndPreston2761382834-631
17Millwall2679102424030
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Derby CountyDerby2776143137-627
20Cardiff CityCardiff2769122941-1227
21Hull City2768132636-1026
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2775152744-1726
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


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