Latest Sheffield United injury and team news ahead of Nottingham Forest + Paul Heckingbottom’s pre-match comments

Sheffield United host Nottingham Forest in a huge clash in the Championship this evening, as both sides look to crash into the top-six ahead of Saturday’s schedule. 

Paul Heckingbottom, though, has a few fitness concerns when it comes to his first-team squad.

Jack O’Connell remains absent, whilst Jayden Bogle, David McGoldrick and Rhian Brewster are all other long-term injuries that Heckingbottom will likely be continuing without for the rest of the season.

There’s also doubt over George Baldock and Conor Hourihane coming into this fixture, although Heckingbottom refused to rule either out and was willing to provide an update to the media earlier in the week.

As per Sheffield United’s media channels, he said: “We’ll give him (Baldock) the chance to play. Hopefully he’ll be ok.

“We’ve done similar with Conor, he’s been on the grass. Hopefully, touch wood, a lighter three days has allowed a couple of bodies to recover and refresh.”

Chris Basham, the Blades’ ever-reliable cog on the right of the back-three, is also set to be missing after picking up a knee problem in the 4-0 win over Swansea City.

There was also an update from the defender from the Blades: “Never nice being injured even more frustrating when winning 4-0.

“Injury not as bad as I first thought but will be on the side line for a few weeks in the mean time will be backing the lads all the way.

“Not come this far to only get this far.”

One other absentee within the Sheffield United squad is Charlie Goode, who misses a second match through suspension following his dismissal in the 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last week.

He’s not available until the trip to Coventry City on March 12th and, combined with Basham’s absence, means that Heckingbottom has a dilemma on