Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom expects a strong response from his players when they go head-to-head with West Ham United at the London Stadium tomorrow
Now let’s display some Sheffield steel. When Sheffield United visits West Ham United tomorrow afternoon, all eyes will be on them.
How well will the Blades recover from their humiliating 8-0 loss to Newcastle United? Or will they suffer their third straight defeat?
Under-fire boss Paul Heckingbottom has urged his more experienced players to “step up” after their poor start to the season. “We’ve got a lot of players who are new and trying to find their feet, not only in our club but in English football as well and the Premier League,” he said.
“We can’t expect them to be coming in and dominating vocally. They’ve got to get their feet under the table and adapt, and to do that you tend to have to be performing well enough on the pitch.
“That will only come with performances or the [amount of] time they’re at this club. There are still a lot of experienced players here, who know the standards and the level of this league, who we need to step up and make sure they take on the extra responsibility.
“It’s not down to one or two [players], it’s down to everyone – and while we can do all the work we want on the training ground, you’ve got to enjoy the challenge of the battle on the pitch and implementing it on the pitch.”
It will be interesting to see how many changes to the starting XI Heckingbottom decides to make for the trip to the London Stadium. United have to show some fight and get back to the levels they produced against Manchester City and Tottenham to stand any chance of picking up a positive result this weekend.
Although Anel Ahmedhodzic and John Egan were run ragged by a rampant Newcastle side, Heckingbottom will probably opt to stick with the duo in his back three. With George Baldock unlikely to return to action, Jayden Bogle is expected to keep his place at right wing back.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that there could be a change in midfield. Former Everton man Tom Davies is pushing to make his first league start since moving to Bramall Lane.
Heckingbottom has confirmed Gus Hamer is available for selection, having shrugged off a minor thigh injury. The likelihood is Hamer will play alongside Vincious Souza and James McAtee in the centre.
Expect Heckingbottom to freshen up his attack. Oli McBurnie should return to partner Cameron Archer up front after completing a one-match suspension.
Blades line-up to face West Ham: Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Bogle, Souza, McAtee, Hamer, Thomas; McBurnie, Archer.
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