Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has revealed that he hopes to have Scottish midfielder Paul Coutts available for the club again by the end of next month.

Coutts was one of United’s star performers last season before sustaining a fractured tibia in the club’s 3-1 victory over Burton Albion to send them top of the Championship.

Since Coutts’ injury the Blades began to falter, they just didn’t look like the same side. The midfielder’s return has been long awaited, and Wilder has given fans some positive news.

Coutts took part in United’s open training session at Bramall Lane on Monday afternoon and will play in a friendly against an unnamed club to give him some game time.

“Paul isn’t close yet to getting back on the pitch. He needs some U23 games and needs to go through the process,” said Wilder.

“We’re desperate to get him back. He’s training now and needs match action.

“Everything in training is controlled; we can pull him out of training or put him in for sessions. When you step onto the pitch at any level, it’s ‘away you go’.

“He has to go through the process of clearing himself for a return, by playing 30 minutes, 60 minutes and then 90 minutes.

“But we’ve pencilled in the middle to the end of September in terms of when he’ll be back.

“It’s not an exact science, he may have a setback or feel better than we thought he would and be earlier or later.

“But it definitely won’t be October or November, and it won’t be the end of the month either.

“Do we miss him? We miss every good player that isn’t available, especially a player as influential as he has been, is being and will be in the future.”
[Quotes via the Star]