07-03-2025, 20:56
Paul Heckingbottom wants his side to do all they can to make sure this is the most exciting time of the season.
There’s now only 11 matches left of the Sky Bet Championship campaign and North End currently sit 15th in the table ahead of a trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United.
As far as the manager is concerned, the goal for the remainder of the season is clear.
Hecky said: “Winning as many as possible. We put pressure on ourselves to do that.
“There’s obviously big excitement still around the cup and big opportunities with the games that we're playing. This should be the most exciting time of the season. It should be.
“I've been lucky enough to have that all of the time when I've managed. I want to make sure that we can keep that and maintain that.
“This should be the time of the season where each game feels bigger and bigger towards the end.”
The gaffer will want as many of his players available between now and the end of the season, however the physio department have been kept busy in the past few weeks.
Ali McCann, Mads Frøkjær and Stefán Thórdarson are all likely to miss the trip to Bramall Lane – as well as the longer-term absentees – albeit there is more positive news when it comes to captain Ben Whiteman.
He’s returned to full training during the week and is expected to play a part over the next three matches.
Hecky said: “It's a bit too early for him. With Ali and Stef being out we wouldn’t be in a position to go with Ben. It’s too much of a risk for him.
“He's had two days training with us. That's it. But he's in a position where I'm going to use him, definitely, but we have to use him in a way that benefits the team and doesn't break Ben and also puts him in a better place for Tuesday night as well.”
It’ll be a return to Bramall Lane for the skipper if he is involved, and the same can be said for Hecky and his assistant, Stuart McCall, who led the Blades to the Premier League in 2023.
Chris Wilder’s now the man in charge there and he’s got them on track to return to the top flight.
Hecky said: “They’re one of the best in the league, I think. They're up there with Leeds if you add the two [deducted] points on. They’re right there.
“People always talk about Leeds and that they're the best team in the league, but Sheffield United are there with them.
“I think their strengths are in a different way. They've been ruthlessly efficient and got really big moments in them from big players which have meant that they've won so many games.
“The other standout quality for me is that mentality. They’ve won a lot of games where they’ve not been at their best and that's why they're up there competing with Leeds for that title.”
MACS VIEW
We rarely get anything here and given our midfielders are all injured bar one suspect we won't be winning at the Lane tomorrow
There’s now only 11 matches left of the Sky Bet Championship campaign and North End currently sit 15th in the table ahead of a trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United.
As far as the manager is concerned, the goal for the remainder of the season is clear.
Hecky said: “Winning as many as possible. We put pressure on ourselves to do that.
“There’s obviously big excitement still around the cup and big opportunities with the games that we're playing. This should be the most exciting time of the season. It should be.
“I've been lucky enough to have that all of the time when I've managed. I want to make sure that we can keep that and maintain that.
“This should be the time of the season where each game feels bigger and bigger towards the end.”
The gaffer will want as many of his players available between now and the end of the season, however the physio department have been kept busy in the past few weeks.
Ali McCann, Mads Frøkjær and Stefán Thórdarson are all likely to miss the trip to Bramall Lane – as well as the longer-term absentees – albeit there is more positive news when it comes to captain Ben Whiteman.
He’s returned to full training during the week and is expected to play a part over the next three matches.
Hecky said: “It's a bit too early for him. With Ali and Stef being out we wouldn’t be in a position to go with Ben. It’s too much of a risk for him.
“He's had two days training with us. That's it. But he's in a position where I'm going to use him, definitely, but we have to use him in a way that benefits the team and doesn't break Ben and also puts him in a better place for Tuesday night as well.”
It’ll be a return to Bramall Lane for the skipper if he is involved, and the same can be said for Hecky and his assistant, Stuart McCall, who led the Blades to the Premier League in 2023.
Chris Wilder’s now the man in charge there and he’s got them on track to return to the top flight.
Hecky said: “They’re one of the best in the league, I think. They're up there with Leeds if you add the two [deducted] points on. They’re right there.
“People always talk about Leeds and that they're the best team in the league, but Sheffield United are there with them.
“I think their strengths are in a different way. They've been ruthlessly efficient and got really big moments in them from big players which have meant that they've won so many games.
“The other standout quality for me is that mentality. They’ve won a lot of games where they’ve not been at their best and that's why they're up there competing with Leeds for that title.”
MACS VIEW
We rarely get anything here and given our midfielders are all injured bar one suspect we won't be winning at the Lane tomorrow
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?