Speaking to the Sheffield Star, Chris Wilder has played down any problems between Sheffield United and Chelsea over Jamal Blackman, who is currently recovering from an injury picked up whilst playing for the Sky Bet Championship outfit last week.  

Blackman suffered an injury in Sheffield United’s clash with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last week, but is yet to return to Bramall Lane, with Chelsea, the goalkeeper’s parent-club, taking care of him through his first stage of recovery.

Wilder has played down that there is any problem between the Blades and Chelsea, despite the 24-year-old still recovering in London, he said: “Chelsea took over, which you would expect them too, we were only a few miles or so away.

“He went to hospital on Tuesday and they scanned him. Apparently there we no major issues. Because we were down there at the time, it was perfect sense for him to go there. Chelsea, quite rightly, will have wanted to know what was going on anyway. We would do if we had a player out on-loan and the same thing happened.”

Blackman has made 15 Championship appearances for the Blades since his loan move from Chelsea, keeping five clean sheets for Wilder’s side. The only fixture the 24-year-old has missed was the 4-1 victory over Hull City at the weekend, with Simon Moore deputising for the injured goalkeeper.

That victory over Hull moved the Blades back into the Championship’s automatic promotion places, with Wilder’s side now just two points behind league leaders, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Verdict

It is good to see that Sheffield United and Chelsea have an understanding over Blackman, as Wilder will want the goalkeeper back amongst his playing squad as quickly as possible.

Blackman is Chelsea’s player, and they have a right to assess him before letting him return to Bramall Lane, which shouldn’t be a problem with the goalkeeper’s injury not as serious as first feared.

Sheffield United fans… Let us know your thoughts!