Sheffield United face Wigan Athletic this weekend.
Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook says he can’t understand why Sheffield United have blocked on-loan midfielder Lee Evans from featuring this weekend having previously allowed Millwall’s on-loan Ryan Leonard to play against the Blades earlier in the campaign.
“Sheffield United have ruled Lee out for some unknown reason. It’s to do with a loan situation that I still can’t grasp. He’s our player, so I don’t grasp that,” Cook told Wigan Today.
“I don’t know why Leonard was allowed to play for Millwall and Evans isn’t for us, I physically can’t get my head around that, but that’s one for Chris WIlder and Sheffield United. We’re in the process of paying for Lee, so I don’t grasp that. Lee is our player, Leonard is Millwall’s player. Leonard plays, Lee doesn’t. I don’t grasp it.”
Wigan travel to Bramall Lane this weekend to take on high-flying Sheffield United, and they were already weakened with the likes of Will Grigg, Michael Jacobs and Nick Powell sidelined with injury.
Evans’ absence means the Latics are down to the bare bones, and it’s a decision which raises plenty of questions, with a deal already in place for the player to join Wigan permanently in January.
Previously, Millwall’s Ryan Leonard who is also on loan from the Blades but set to join permanently in January, was permitted to play for the Lions during their 3-2 defeat to the Yorkshire side last month. But Evans in contrast has been made ineligible – a decision which understandably must be frustrating for Wigan.
The Latics have made an excellent start to life back in the Championship as they sit in the top half, though on the road they have struggled with six defeats from their seven games so far.
Sheffield United will be firm favourites for the clash, and they will be desperate for all three points as they come in to the game having picked up just one point from their past two matches.
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