Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says Jack O'Connell could be fit before the end of the season.

The Blades central defender was originally ruled out for the entire season, after undergoing surgery on a knee injury he suffered in training on the eve of Project Restart.

"Jack's situation for the season and going longer is that we will only know (if he can play this season) when he gets back with a ball at his feet," Wilder said.

"He can do all the work that he is doing now, which is great. The treatment is intense, it's full on, but we have wrote Jack from our plans until February.

"The defining moment will be when he gets back into training and preparation to returning to full training, which is ball introduced, the movements that he has to do and contact with other players in a fast-moving game."