Sheffield United in manager dilemma ahead of Leicester City clash

For the first time in nearly five years, Sheffield United will most likely play Leicester without manager Chris Wilder at the helm with his sacking proving to be imminent.

Wilder guided the Blades to promotions to the Championship and Premier League as well as a top-half Premier League finish in his first season in the topflight.

Sheffield United haven’t revealed who will be in charge for Saturday’s encounter with Leicester City. The current favourites for the United job are Paul Heckingbottom, the former Hibernian and Leeds manager, who currently manages the Blades’ U23 side and Neil Lennon, the former Celtic boss.

Lennon recently left his position at the Glasgow giants after Rangers stopped them from winning 10 Scottish Premierships in a row.

United sacking Wilder has left people questioning if they’re now getting set for life in the Championship next season. The Blades sit bottom of the table on 14 points, having lost 22 games so far this season, winning only four times. Wilder’s successor will be looking to take the club back to the Premier League at the quickest possible attempt.

It’s a far cry from their dream return to the Premier League last year when the Yorkshire side finished ninth in the table with a possibility of the Blades competing in the Europa League the following campaign. This season, it’s all gone wrong, from a recruitment point of view and a performance point of view, with Sheffield United fans expecting a swift return to life in the second tier.

Out of all the games Sheffield United could’ve chosen to play after just sacking a manager, Leicester would’ve been low down on their list. The Foxes sit third in the league and are more focussed on Champions League qualification than relegation battles.

United also find themselves without John Egan, Sander Berge and Jack O’Connell due to injury, making their uphill task at the King Power an even harder one.

Ethan Ampadu and Phil Jagielka, who will most likely start in the Sheffield United defence, face the challenge of stopping Jamie Vardy.

The former England international has 12 Premier League goals so far, only four away from Sheffield United’s entire goal total for the season.

Vardy scored in their previous encounter, winning 2-1, and being a boyhood fan of fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday; you’d expect him to be fired up for this clash, wanting nothing but to compile more misery onto the Blades this season.

The only good news for Sheffield United is that Leicester will be without England, hopefuls James Maddison, who’s hip injury is keeping him on the sidelines until later this month and Harvey Barnes who is expected to return in late April after a knee injury.

Both Englishmen are creative players and help Leicester play free-flowing football that’s got them in a Champions League spot.

Leicester have had a poor record at home this season with only 36% of their points coming at the King Power, but still have too much quality such as Youri Tielemans, Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi. They should find a way past a Sheffield United side without a manager, struck by injury and playing for pride as the Championship looms.

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