Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has suggested star striker Billy Sharp could be involved in the play-off semi-final second-leg clash with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Sharp missed the first-leg of the play-off clash, which Forest won 2-1, at Bramall Lane due to a calf injury which has kept him sidelined for a number of weeks. Before that the 36-year-old front-man had spent time in the treatment room for a hamstring injury.
Despite spending the final month of the season out of the squad, Sharp remains the Blades' top-scorer with 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions. His contributions up-front are a key part of why the Yorkshire outfit finished in the Championship's top six spots.
READ MORE: The big dilemma facing Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper for Sheffield United second leg
ALSO READ: Released Nottingham Forest defender being monitored by Championship trio
Speaking in the build-up to the second-leg, Heckingbottom confirmed that long-term absentees Jayden Bogle and Rhian Brewster would remain unavailable; he was more secretive when it came to Sharp, however.
He told the Sheffield Star: "There’s only Bill who has a chance of being available and featuring in the play-offs. The rest of the boys, we know they are out."
"We’d like to think he might be (ready)," the United manager added. "If he’s ready and the medical people tell us that he's ready then, yes, of course we’ll do it."
Forest hold a slim advantage heading into the second-leg having won 2-1 at Bramall Lane on Saturday. Goals from Jack Colback and Brennan Johnson put the Reds ahead, although they could have scored more in a dominant first-half showing.
Sander Berge scored in stoppage time to reduce the deficit going into the return leg at the City Ground on Tuesday (May 17).
