'It's a blow' - Oli McBurnie and Billy Sharp update as Sheffield United duo miss Stoke defeat

Paul Heckingbottom says it was too much of a risk for Oli McBurnie to feature in today's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City. The striker was a surprise omission from today's teamsheet, along with Billy Sharp, who had not fully recovered from his hamstring injury suffered in the 2-0 win over Barnsley.

It meant the Blades boss had to travel without a recognised senior striker, with 18-year-olds Daniel Jebbison starting and William Osula coming off the bench. Heckingbottom said Sharp did feel confident on Thursday of returning to action, but after being pushed in a session to test his fitness he was 'aware of his hamstring'.

McBurnie had not trained after suffering a thigh strain on Tuesday and with four important games to come in the next two weeks, Heckingbottom says he cannot afford for either of those two to suffer more damage.

He said: "It's a blow. Billy was pushing and did a session to see exactly where he was at but was aware of his hamstring, so obviously a bit too soon today.

"Oli Mac hit a shot in training on Tuesday and felt his thigh and has not trained since. It got to the point today where it would have been too big a risk with the four games coming up.

"With muscle injuries you just can't afford it, you have seen how we have been hit with the forwards all at once and it was too big a risk knowing he was not 100 per cent."

The pair were missed in today's defeat, as United lacked quality in the final third and struggled to create. Josh Tymon's deflected effort, via John Egan, settled a tight contest, which looked destined for a draw.

United had genuine appeals for a penalty turned down when Rhys Norrington-Davies was tripped in the area. Replays confirmed it should have been given, a decision Heckingbottom described as