Sheffield United have received a boost ahead of the Steel City derby this Friday night against Sheffield Wednesday with the news that Chris Basham has signed a new contract which runs until 2021.
The versatile defender recently made his 200th appearance for the Blades and has only missed one league game this season, the most recent one, a defeat to Nottingham Forest.
“I’ve been here a long time. My family love the city and, with them settled, I’m able to focus on my game and playing consistently well,” he said.
Basham joined the South Yorkshire side after leaving Blackpool in 2014 and was influential to the side that won promotion from League One in the 2016/17 season.
He started his career at Bolton Wanderers and remained there until 2010, when he joined Blackpool and suffered relegation from the Premier League with the Seasiders, incidentally the last time Basham played in the top flight.
The new deal will take the Hebburn-born man to a month shy of his 33rd birthday and ensure a seven-year association with Chris Wilder’s side.
A win on Friday night will put United back to the top of the table, at least until Saturday afternoon, as they currently sit in third. Wednesday are four points off the bottom three.
Whatever the outcome, the Steel City derby is destined to be one of the games of the weekend. It will, if other games between the sides act as a marker, be a tenacious, hard-fought affair where both sides will fight tooth and nail for what are a vital three points.
