Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United: Wilder Slams Schedule
Fleetwood Town host Sheffield United in the League Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, September 16. Matt Lawlor’s League Two side welcome their Championship opponents to Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, aiming to cause an upset against a club two divisions above them.
Team News and Injury Latest for Fleetwood vs Sheffield United
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder faces several selection headaches heading to the coast. Defender Sam McCallum is a major doubt following what Wilder described as an "unbelievable" situation regarding the squad's quick turnaround. The Blades are already navigating this period without the injured quartet of Harrison Burrows, Femi Seriki, Tahith Chong, and Ryan One.
For the hosts, Matt Lawlor is sweating on the fitness of influential midfielder Andy Cannon, who is awaiting scan results for a recent injury. Kane Thompson-Sommers also remains sidelined for the home side. However, the recent additions of Josh Robertson and Adam Murphy provide much-needed midfield cover alongside regulars like Harrison Neal and Mark Helm.
Sheffield United Rotations Amid Fixture Congestion
The timing of this cup tie has drawn the ire of the visiting dugout, with Wilder slamming the EFL over a heavily congested fixture list. Sandwiched directly between a Sunday clash with Wolves and an upcoming Saturday trip to Stoke City, Wednesday's match will force heavy rotation from the Championship side to protect tired legs.
Fringe players and recent arrivals are expected to benefit from the packed schedule. Matt Doherty and Rhys Norrington-Davies are likely candidates to step into the full-back roles, allowing Hamza Choudhury and McCallum to rest. Jairo Riedewald and Joe Rothwell could anchor the midfield, while up front, Tom Cannon and Romelle Donovan will be pushing for starts to prove their worth to the manager.