What Oli McBurnie told Paul Heckingbottom to underline his Sheffield United commitment

Paul Heckingbottom said Oli McBurnie made himself available to feature at Blackpool last night despite not being fit enough to play. The 25-year-old suffered a dead leg in the 4-1 defeat at Coventry on Saturday that left him unable to move properly.

He had not recovered in the build-up to Wednesday night's goalless draw at Bloomfield Road but still travelled with the team in the hope of adding an extra option on the bench. Only Conor Hourihane was classed as a senior outfield player among the seven Sheffield United substitutes as Paul Heckingbottom's squad is down to the bare bones.

The Blades boss was missing 11 players for this fixture but McBurnie looks set to be included in the squad for Saturday's match against his former club Barnsley. To his credit, the striker did all he could to be fit last night, spending time in the pool at the club's hotel in a bid to help speed up his recovery.

And, as Paul Heckingbottom explains, was willing to play despite his boss not wanting him to. He said: "We brought Oli and he has done everything he can, even to the point of being in the pool at the hotel.

"He was putting himself forward to be on the bench and said 'listen, if you need me last five minutes to come on and win headers, defend'. He put himself forward, but we would have been running the risk of getting another knock.

"We know he's not 100% so it was the right call to leave him out. We'd expect him to be back fit for Barnsley on Saturday."

Among those 11 injured players ahead of kick-off was George Baldock. The right wing-back has been struggling with an issue that the club is trying to get to the bottom of.

He has been for a series of scans and Heckingbottom says the results were reassuring. He added: "We hope he