Danny Wilson has revealed that Kevin McDonald is currently rated as doubtful for Sunday's Steel City derby at Hillsborough.

The in-form Scottish midfielder, who has been instrumental in helping the Blades move up to second place in League One, was withdrawn in the first-half of the victory over Preston North End on Saturday with a hamstring strain and hasn't trained since.

Despite that, the boss is refusing to rule McDonald out of contention for the clash with the Owls, although he insists the Blades would cope if the Scot fails to make the trip to S6:

"Kevin hasn't trained this week and is quite doubtful, I would say, but there is always a chance. We know what players are like and with a game like this nobody wants to miss it, so we will wait and see.

"We are going to give him as long as possible to prove his fitness but we also have contingency plans as you would expect."

Wilson added: "Kevin has played with niggles at certain points already this season, so if he looks like he can play his game then we will consider starting with him, especially as his injury might possibly clear up in the build-up to the weekend.

"He is a different player to some of the other lads and we might miss certain aspects of his play, but others contribute just as much in different ways and we have kept the squad together through January for situations like this one.

"If Kevin doesn't make it then we won't have to change the dynamics of the team, it will just be a personnel change."