Sheffield United are facing the prospect of having to make the trip to Deepdale without midfielder Mark Duffy, following the latest update on the 33-year-old's achilles problem.

Duffy was forced to pull out of Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Bristol City with the issue, and it appears it could keep him out of this weekend's meeting with Preston as well.

According to The Sheffield Star, Blades manager Chris Wilder is preparing to face the play-off hopefuls without Duffy, with Kieran Dowell expected to again feature instead.

[ad_pod ]

 

A stop start season has seen the experienced Duffy fail to make the starting XI no less than 14 times despite his influence on the side.

There is better news for The Blades with regards to centre back Jack O'Connell, who is expected to be available for the Deepdale clash, with the defender having returned to training on Monday after limping out of the defeat to Bristol City with a calf issue.

The Verdict

No side likes to lose key players but you feel Duffy could a particularly big miss at Deepdale on Saturday.

Preston will be desperate to keep their play-off hopes alive following their own defeat at Reading at the weekend, and against a midfield as strong and competitive as theirs, Duffy would have been hugely important to Chris Wilder's side.

Thoughts? Let us know!