Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has confirmed he will be without Jairo Riedewald for “a couple of weeks” after the defensive midfielder missed Saturday’s defeat to Charlton with a hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old has made 12 league starts for the Blades since arriving from Belgian side Royal Antwerp in October.
This season, United have had to manage the minutes of midfielders Oli Arblaster, Sydie Peck and Tom Davies, who have all suffered injury problems of their own.
Their engine room will look even more depleted for the midweek trip to Southampton after Djibril Soumare’s red card at The Valley triggers a three-match ban.
“It’s a big, big blow, and with the situation with Oli, Sydie and Tom, it was a big blow to lose him on Saturday and it will be tomorrow night and into the weekend,” Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.
“He’ll be out for a couple of weeks. It was the culmination of a really disappointing and strange 48 hours from where we were.
“We will see what happens after the Ipswich game and hopefully he will be available for the Millwall game. [on 31 January].
“[It’s a ] “It’s also a big coup for him because I think everyone has really seen the type of character he is and what he does for the team and how he makes the team work.”