Super Pelle delivers a major City boost

Super Pelle Mattsson is back and Philippe Clement is delighted to have the all-action midfielder available for the Championship run-in.

Mattsson missed eight games with an ankle injury, that forced him off during the home win over leaders Coventry City, but is in contention for Wednesday's Sheffield United visit.

QPR loanee Sam Field has impressed alongside captain Kenny McLean in the engine room, but the Dane’s return could not be better timed for Clement.

“He trained well the last two days, and he looks fit be on the pitch,” said the City chief. “Not a full game. He comes out of an injury, but he looks fit and he's hungry. We know what we get from Pelle. He has a good basic condition, so we know he's available for the squad from now on. And we're all very happy with that. Absolutely.

“The good thing is that the group was never busy with those injury things, they're busy with being fit and to fill the spaces. Sam did really well. Jacob (Wright) did really well when Pelle was not there.

"So it's good to have also even more competition now in this midfield, and that I can make a kind of rotation with them in the next couple of weeks, because we have a massive amount of games in short time that I can do that again.”

Clement gave an upbeat bulletin at Colney on Tuesday on young midfielder Oscar Schwartau (hamstring) and Mo Toure (groin). The duo are targeting a return after the upcoming international period.

“I expect Oscar and Mo back probably after the international period, to be ready to be in a squad, not earlier. That would be a surprise. I like nice surprises, but that would be a surprise if they're earlier,” said Clement, who indicated he has some late fitness calls ahead of the Blades’ clash from those who were on FA Cup duty at Leeds.

“Maybe the medical team doesn't like the pressure that I say that. It has been a really short period since the weekend game, and still several players who feel something, but no major things (for Wednesday).

"The good thing is they learn now in this period to be honest about things, and maybe I have a starting XI in my head now and I need to change something. It's possible and it happened in the last few weeks.

"The most important thing is that players stay honest with the staff, with us, with their team mates, with themselves, so they feel their bodies, how they recover after the games and after knocks, and then, together with the medical team, we can make the right decisions.”