Roeder Defends SKY TV

Last updated : 03 November 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor

... of playing the Blades just a matter of 40-odd hours after the UEFA Cup tie.

Glenn Roeder: "It is a big ask to have to play Thursday, Saturday and then Tuesday, but we have got to overcome that.

"The way things are going with the UEFA Cup and Carling Cup, we do have too many games. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

"It would be helpful if we had a number of more players at senior level. If somebody had picked up a knock, they would not have had time to recover and I am sure there will be one or two players who wake up sore in the morning. They perhaps would be fine for Tuesday, but not Saturday.

"The Sheffield United fixture cannot be helped. It was a schedule already decided in July. Our preparations will be different in that we are staying here in Palermo until Friday evening and will move to a hotel in Newcastle on Friday night.

"It is not ideal playing again in 48 hours, but that is the situation and we will take a positive approach and prepare for the game. Once Sky had decided it would be played on Saturday night, that was the end of it and we have to just get on with it."