Chris Wilder drops printed T-shirts quip as dynamic duo 'desperate' on first Coventry City return
Chris Wilder says Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare are “desperate” to do well on their first playing returns to Coventry City – the club where they made their names in English football.
The Sheffield United boss even went as far to joke that his players would be wearing “Let’s do it for Gus” T-shirts underneath their Blades’ jerseys, while picking up on the mood music surrounding some Sky Blues fans’ thoughts about O’Hare – some unhappy with the way he left the club last summer, having run down his contract and moved on a free transfer, and others annoyed at photo shoot on his arrival at Bramall Lane when he donned a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses to recreate his iconic goal celebration for City against Birmingham.
No-one can deny, however, O'Hare's contribution over his time at the club, not least his part in City's League One title winning campaign and then helping to establish the club back in the Championship.
Hamer, meanwhile, is sure to get a warm reception at the CBS Arena where supporters loved watching him play for three seasons before he was sold for £15m the summer before last, since when he's returned as a spectator on several occasions.
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Asked about the duo’s return to Coventry, Blades’ boss Wilder said: “We’ve had a little bit of a chat about that.
“Let’s do it for Gus! I’m not so sure Cal’s going to get the reception that he maybe should get, but knowing Callum and getting to know his character, I don’t think that’ll upset him. Both players had fabulous contributions to that work and the rise of Coventry City, under Mark (Robins), but we understand football and we understand how it all pans out.
“And both boys will be desperate. The ‘do it for Gus’ T-shirts might be on under the shirts! But both boys have played a major part in our start to the season. They’ve been great to work with. I’m sure there’s more to come. And the way they’ve trained this week, and the way the group has trained this week, they’re really looking forward to a tough challenge.
“But certainly, those boys are going to be instrumental in our season and they can be those consistent performers as they have been, then we’ll give ourselves a good opportunity of getting results.”