Chris Wilder has stated he needs players to step up as Louie Barry’s absence from the Sheffield United first team continues.
With the Blades having a dismal start to the season, results have slowly begun to turn around thanks to the return of Chris Wilder, who replaced Ruben Selles just months after his arrival at Bramall Lane. It was the former Hull City manager who brought Barry to South Yorkshire, but has been seemingly left in the lurch after his departure.
Wilder Calls For Improvements
Barry, on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa, made the step up to the Championship after an impressive 18 months with Stockport County, helping them to the League Two title and establishing themselves as a force in the division above. After a switch to Hull City was curtailed due to injury, it was believed that a move to Sheffield could see him become a regular in the 2nd tier.
However, the former Barcelona academy prospect has failed to deliver with no contributions in 9 matches and has been phased out of the squad by Wilder, despite injuries to Gus Hamer and Tahith Chong. He, alongside Tom Cannon, failed to make the 20-man squad for the Blades’ loss to Derby County.
Ahead of the match against league leaders Coventry City, Wilder explained what the pair needed to do to regain selection. He said (Quotes via Sheffield Star):
“Train well and take an opportunity. Ryan [One]’s done well, so I made that decision [To replace Tom Cannon]. You have to make decisions, regardless of any sort of things that have happened in the past.
“I’m not protecting anybody; I have to pick the best team. I don’t always get that right but we try to pick the best approach, which we feel we are at the moment. We’re just making too many individual mistakes and they are costing us.
“So any opportunity – whether it’s on the training ground or whether it’s minutes, starting or coming onto the pitch – they’ve got to grab that opportunity and stick themselves to the front of the queue.”
Can Barry Salvage His Loan?
Due to his absence, speculation began to emerge as to whether Villa would recall Barry in January due to a lack of game time, further added to by his inclusion in an Under-21’s game on the day of the Coventry match. It is in these games that he must convince Chris Wilder to bring him back into the fold, or an exit in 2 months is likely.
