Sheffield United players will show their solidarity with the club’s damaged corner flag ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Southampton.
Blades stars have launched an online fundraising campaign under the hashtag #GetWellSoonFlagsy.
The corner flag suffered a double-compound fracture of the pole following an over-exuberant goal celebration by Leicester star Jamie Vardy.
33-year-old Blue WKD enthusiast Vardy slid into the corner flag and completely shattered it with his foot after scoring a late winner against Chris Wilder’s side.
The short pole was unable to continue the game and will see a specialist tomorrow to discover the full extent of the damage.
Boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan Jamie Vardy.
Scores the winner at Sheffield United, snaps the corner flag 🚩 pic.twitter.com/UYGGmG5Kbx
— GOAL (@goal) December 6, 2020
Blades boss Wilder confirmed the corner flag will spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines, which could force the club to purchase a replacement in January.
‘It’s a bad one’, the 53-year-old told Paddy Power News.
‘Flagsy said he heard the snap as soon as Vardy’s foot made contact.’
‘The lad’s in bits’.
‘We’ll have to wait and see what the specialist says but Flagsy could be out for some time. We might have to consider our options in the January sales’.
Club captain Billy Sharp said the players were distraught in the changing room after the incident.
‘We’re all gutted for Flagsy’, the former Leeds United star told Paddy Power News.
‘He’s worked hard to get himself into the starting 4 this season’.
‘The lads have already launched a fundraiser to support him. It’s hard to know at this stage, but he might never wave in a top-flight game again’.
Leicester frontman Vardy later apologised, claiming he didn’t set out to intentionally obliterate the flag pole into smithereens.
‘The momentum’s carried me and I may have just touched him on the way through’.
‘I’ve sent Flagsy a text and I hope he makes a speedy recovery’.
Meanwhile, well-wishers rushed to social media to show their support for the corner flag.
The Wembley crossbar, which buckled under the weight of jubilant Scotland supporters following a 1977 England v Scotland game, Tweeted: ‘Stay strong my brother’.
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