Jack O’Connell’s next Sheffield United steps revealed after training return boost

Jack O’Connell is back kicking balls under the guidance of Sheffield United’s coaching staff at their training complex as he looks to regain his fitness after more than two years out of the game.

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The defender has endured a torrid time on the injury front, undergoing two operations on his injured knee in a bid to return to action.

Hopes for a comeback were raised recently when boss Paul Heckingbottom revealed the 28-year-old was “back on the grass”, and O’Connell was seen working in the background of an Inside Shirecliffe YouTube video at the training ground recently.

Now, the plan is for O’Connell’s load to be gradually increased, to minimise the chances of another setback. Speaking ahead of travelling to Reading for tonight’s crunch Championship clash, Heckingbottom said: “I’ve not seen him today, he’s not been in today, but he had a couple of days on the grass last week.

“It’s just gradual increments and seeing how his body responds to that.”

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Asked if the next step was O’Connell joining in training with his teammates, Heckingbottom admitted: “He’s miles away from that. He’s just jogging, doing his own thing.

“Kicking balls and working hard with Macca [Lee McMahon, sports scientist]. So he just needs to gradually increase the load and see how his body responds.”