MX23RW : Wednesday, June 12 15:34:06| >> :600:93844:93844:

Chris Basham concerned new five-sub rule could hurt Sheffield United

Chris Basham concerned new five-sub rule could hurt Sheffield United
© Reuters
The Blades are sitting in seventh place in the Premier League just five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Sheffield United defender Chris Basham believes the introduction of the five substitutes rule could hit the Blades' chances of securing European football next season.

Basham's side begin the Premier League's return from the coronavirus lockdown at Aston Villa on Wednesday night, sitting in seventh place in the Premier League just five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

But the 31-year-old is concerned the new FIFA rule – designed to help clubs better manage the hectic fixture list – will favour those sides with more resources at their disposal.

Sheffield United v Manchester City – Premier League – Bramall Lane
Sheffield United are gunning for an unlikely European slot (Mike Egerton/PA)

Basham told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think the substitutes thing that has come in will affect us a little bit because we are not going to be as strong as the top six sides.

"But we we are going to give it a good go and the manager would not let us do anything other than that.

"The manager said we can go from just being in the Premier League, staying up, or we can go and do something we've never done before and that is getting into Europe and getting into the Champions League."

Chris Wilder File Photo
Chris Wilder will make himself heard at Bramall Lane (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)

Basham admitted his team-mates, in common with most Premier League players, are still coming to terms with the new sterile environment as the game returns amid strict social-distancing procedures.

Referring to his side's build-up games, Basham added: "It was an eye-opener getting used to playing in front of no fans and hearing the manager's voice from the other side of the pitch.

"It is just getting used to the vulnerability of not getting changed together and doing team-talks outside. Everything is still a bit unknown at the moment."

ID:402446: cacheID:402446:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5222:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith on March 1, 2020
Read Next:
Project Restart: Aston Villa's remaining 2019-20 Premier League fixtures
>
Read more about Chris Basham Football
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!