Sheffield United dealt Cameron Archer injury blow ahead of Arsenal clash

The 22-year-old made the switch from Aston Villa to Bramall Lane in the summer, hoping to help the Blades avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Archer has netted a steady tally of four goals in 22 top-flight appearances since swapping the West Midlands for South Yorkshire, including a strike on his Premier League debut for the club against Everton.

The attacker possesses relative international pedigree, having represented England Under-21s on 11 occasions between May 2022 and August of last year.

With the battle to avoid the Championship hotting up, Sheffield United have been dealt a blow with news that Archer could be unavailable for an extended period of time.

The former Preston North End loanee started and scored in the Blades' 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Luton Town on February 10, but the Kenilworth Road trip was not entirely positive for the attacker.

Archer suffered a calf strain in the closing stages of the match against Rob Edwards's Hatters, being replaced in the 81th minute by Rhian Brewster.

The 22-year-old has missed the Blades' last two Premier League matches, with both ending in defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.

Speaking to the Sheffield Star ahead of Monday night's clash with title-chasers Arsenal at Bramall Lane, United boss Chris Wilder provided an update on Archer's fitness.

"There's no timescale on him. He's improving as you would do with treatment," Wilder said about four-goal striker Archer ahead of Monday's match versus the Gunners.

"I'm sure that he won't be available before the international break, and I'll be delighted if he is.

"With that changing and the Man United game being rescheduled it does give us another week to get the likes of Cameron right."

Given the latest news surrounding Archer's injury, he is set to miss Sheffield United next match, as they host Arsenal on Monday night in Yorkshire.

The ex-Villa man is also scheduled to miss a vital trip to the South coast on March 9, when Wilder's men will do battle with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Sheffield United's first match following the March international break is a home clash with Marco Silva's Fulham on March 30.