Chris Wilder on visiting his former club and having to “get on with it” after Sheffield United lose key midfielder | OneFootball

On Wednesday evening, Middlesbrough will welcome Sheffield United to the Riverside Stadium in a crucial Championship encounter. Ninth-placed Boro, who recently suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bristol City at home, will be eager to bounce back. Their opponents, Sheffield United, currently sitting fourth in the table, also come into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road.

This midweek clash takes on added significance with the return of former Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder, now leading Sheffield United, for the second time. Wilder, who managed 45 games for Boro with a points-per-game ratio of 1.49, will be looking to guide the Blades to a much-needed bounce-back victory.

Chris Wilder recalls his memorable but short spell as the Middlesbrough manager

Reflecting on his time at Middlesbrough, Wilder spoke warmly about the club, stating in his press conference, “Some of my best personal moments in football occurred at that football club,” recalling memorable FA Cup runs and victories over Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Wilder emphasised that his career won’t be defined by his brief tenure at Boro.

Wilder also spoke highly of Middlesbrough’s current coach, Michael Carrick, praising his appointment by chairman Steve Gibson. “They are a good team, well-coached by Michael,” Wilder acknowledged the talent within Boro’s ranks and their excellent supporters.

Carrick’s Middlesbrough side will be eager to reclaim form after their recent loss, with this fixture offering a key opportunity to close the gap on the top six and strengthen their position in the promotion race.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Michael Carrick, Manager of Middlesbrough, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion FC and Middlesbrough FC at The Hawthorns on October 01, 2024 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Michael Carrick on team news ahead of Blades clash

He told Boro Live: “I don’t think it’s how far down the line before changes; it’s a week-to-week thing. There’s a team that needs picking every week, there could be changes within it. It’s not giving a certain individual an opportunity and then you cut that. The whole squad is important and it’s a constant thing, whoever has played has done a lot of good things in the performance level. We need to find that bit extra. I’m sure we will, whoever plays.”

Sheffield United team news

A key point of concern for Sheffield United fans was the fitness of Dutch midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who was forced off during the Blades’ defeat to Leeds. Wilder has since confirmed that Hamer trained over the weekend and will be fit for Wednesday’s match, providing a significant boost for United’s midfield options.

However, the Blades will be without Souza, who is suspended for this fixture after picking up his fifth booking of the season. Speaking on Souza’s suspension, Wilder expressed frustration over what he deemed “harsh” bookings but acknowledged the competitive nature of the Championship. The absence of Souza will open up opportunities for the likes of Sydie Peck and Jamie Shackleton, perhaps even seeing Hamer slotting into his natural position, with Wilder confident in his squad’s depth to handle the challenge.

“It’s how it’s going to be, we’re competitive, we went to make tackles, midfield players need to make tackles. I think a couple of his bookings have been harsh but that’s the way the game is going. I thought it was a really soft booking against Leeds. It opens it up for somebody else. We lost Arblaster and Sydie Peck came in. Shacks can come in as well. We have to get on with it.”

It will be interesting to see how both teams respond after losing at the weekend, especially Sheffield United, who tasted defeat in the second tier for the first time last Friday night.