Chris Wilder has admitted Sheffield United have an issue at wing-back – could Aston Villa’s James Bree or Ritchie de Laet solve it?
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder during the Sky Bet Championship match against Bristol City.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has admitted that the right wing-back role has been an issue during a four-match winless run for his side in the Championship.
Wilder has been without George Baldock and Kieron Freeman for three of those last four outings, three of which they lost, although the former did return for last Friday’s (December 8) 2-1 home defeat to Bristol City.
George Baldock of Sheffield United in action during the Sky Bet Championship match against Bristol City.
As a result Chris Basham has had to play out of position there in order for the Blades to maintain the 3-5-2 formation that served them so well in the early stages of the season.
“The wing-back thing has slightly affected our rhythm because we had to move ‘Bash’ too,” Wilder was quoted by the Yorkshire Post.
“He was playing one position and then has gone into another, which is played differently by other players.”
James Bree of Aston Villa during the Pre-Season Friendly against AFC Telford United.
Freeman has now not played since October 14 due to injury and while Baldock may now be back in contention, support could be needed if United are to rediscover their form in the long-term.
Therefore the Birmingham Mail reporting that Aston Villa duo James Bree and Ritchie de Laet could leave the Midlands outfit on loan might pique the interest of Wilder.
Both full-backs could easily do a job on the right side of the South Yorkshire side’s defence and Bree in particular is an exciting prospect who has perhaps not had the opportunities at Villa Park he would have hoped for following a January switch from Barnsley.
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