Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck could miss their clash with Birmingham City on Wednesday, but manager Chris Wilder has confirmed he doesn't have a serious injury.

The former Rangers player has been a massive player for the Yorkshire side since arriving at Bramall Lane and he was sorely missed at Bristol City on Saturday, as the Blades fell to a 1-0 defeat.

The loss ended a run of four successive victories, where Fleck was outstanding.

And, Wilder told the Sheffield Star that the 27-year-old was in contention for the game at Ashton Gate and will feature against Preston on Saturday if he misses the Blues game:

"He was pretty close to travelling to Bristol with us, so we’ll see how he is before the game. It’s not a two or three week absence so if he doesn’t play on Wednesday, he’ll definitely be involved on Saturday."

Wilder also acknowledged just how important the talented midfielder is to the team:

"Losing John was disappointing for us, because he’s been in fine form and we had to disrupt the balance we had. He’s a very important player for us."

The Blades remain in the play-offs and are three points behind leaders Leeds after the weekend's action, which saw many top sides drop points.

The Verdict

Sheffield United need Fleck on the pitch as he is a quality player and he really does bring a lot to the team with drive and ability on the ball.

But, there's absolutely no point at all in risking him at this stage of the season, so if he has to miss the Birmingham game then that's what they should do.

Obviously, Wilder knows this and will manage the player carefully ahead of what is a busy schedule.

Thoughts, Blades fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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