Sheffield Utd to face remaining season without  McBurnie

Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie is out for the rest of the season with a foot fracture.

The 24-year-old striker suffered the injury during the Blades’ 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

The news comes the day after captain Billy Sharp revealed on Instagram he will also not play again this season, after undergoing surgery on a thigh problem sustained in training.

Blades interim boss Paul Heckinbottom said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon: “Oli is out for the season as well.

“He’s got a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal so we’ve lost two forwards, which isn’t positive.”

Sharp had his operation on Wednesday and Heckingbottom hopes the 35-year-old striker will have recovered in time for pre-season training ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

“His procedure has gone well,” said Heckingbottom. “It’s a tendon issue that required surgery for the best chance of recovery, rather than rest which we were hoping for.

“It’s a blow and a loss because we were hoping we’d have him back for the last few games of the season. But as far as I’m aware, pre-season is the aim.

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“His presence will be missed, I want every player fit and someone of Sharpy’s experience and his connection with the club, and being club captain, it’s a big loss for us for a lot of reasons – not just on the pitch.