Injury boost for Sheffield United with key man involved in training

Sheffield United fans will breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the injury to John Egan that forced him to be replaced in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Everton doesn’t appear to be serious.

Egan came off in the 68th minute of the match at Bramall Lane, with manager Paul Heckingbottom admitting it was his call to bring of the skipper.

Heckingbottom said: “Egs was knee and ankle but he didn’t feel his knee in the second half, he would have carried on but I could see it was affecting him and it was my call really. When you’ve got Bash to come on and move Anel inside, we’re not weakening at all. So it was the sensible thing to do.”

The central defender still went off on international duty with the Republic of Ireland where it was reported that he had gone for a scan to check out the extent of the damage and Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele was drafted in, clearly as a just-in-case.

However, Egan took part in training with his Irish team mates on Tuesday, ahead of Thursday night’s European Championships qualifier against world champions France in Paris.

Whether he is fit enough to play a part in that huge match, or Monday’s home tie with Holland in Dublin remains to be seen but the fact that he is on the training pitch will provide a boost for United with Egan, who has played every league cup match so far this season. such an important member of the team.