Sheffield United: Why Oli McBurnie is being backed to return even stronger following surgery

The centre-forward had scored nine goals in 14 appearances before being forced to miss last weekend’s win over Cardiff City, when it emerged he also required treatment for a damaged ankle ligament.

Despite being troubled by the groin problem over a month, McBurnie’s performances have helped United enter the World Cup break ranked second in the Championship table after briefly climbing to first following their win in south Wales.

Although his latest fitness issue threatens to complicate his rehabilitation programme, Paul Heckingbottom has told The Star he expects McBurnie to set even higher standards once he is declared available for selection.

“Sportsmen’s hernias, they don’t usually get to the point where they’re bulging through,” the United manager explained. “When you play football, you do get used to competing with pains and ailments and, fair play to Oli, he’s always out himself out there.

“It’s not restricted him during games all the time. But it definitely has in between them at times, in terms of the things he can do and his training. So once it gets repaired, he’ll be able to do everything properly.”

Speaking ahead of the visit to City, where George Baldock’s second-half goal proved enough to settle the contest, McBurnie described what it has been like to play through the condition, admitting: “If you saw me in the week, you’d definitely know I’ve got one (a hernia).”

The Scotland international travelled to London for the procedure, which was set to be performed by the same experts who recently prescribed him a course of pain-killing injections.

With Iliman Ndiaye and Adam Davies both hoping to appear at the finals in Qatar, after being selected by Senegal and Wales respectively, the majority of United’s squad have been granted a week off before preparations for December 10th’s game against Huddersfield Town begin in earnest.

“He’ll get even fitter, Oli,” Heckingbottom said. “We’ll get it repaired, get him back up here and I think you’ll soon see even more from him. There’s a lot more to come.”