Sheffield Wednesday travel across the city to Bramall Lane tonight looking to extend a derby run that has seen them unbeaten in the last four clashes between the two sides but they make the journey with a number of injury concerns.
Centre-back Richard Wood sat out Tuesday’s home defeat to Middlesbrough and his replacement Mark Beevers was stretchered off after a collision with Lee Grant.
Replacement Richard Hinds struggled as the Owls succumbed to ‘Boro in the second half and Wednesday have certainly looked a far more solid unit this season when Purse and Wood have been paired together.
In midfield James O’Connor faces a fitness test having missed the last two matches. His replacement in those games, Tommy Miller, has failed to impose himself and thus far Potter and O’Connor seem to have a greater understanding when playing together.
Up front both Akpo Sodje and Leon Clarke are seriously short of match fitness and so it would be a surprise to see anything other than Marcus Tudgay and Luke Varney starting as the front two. Francis Jeffers is available again following suspension but is not expected to feature.
The Blades will be sweating on the fitness of key central defender Matthew Kilgallon who has been suffering from a chest infection. The ex-Leeds man missed United’s midweek game at Coventry and his position at centre-half was taken by young full-back Kyle Walker with ex-Owls target Ryan France coming into the side.
This highlighted a lack of strength in depth that the Blades have in this position and proved their downfall as they conceded 3 goals for the first time in over 30 competitive matches.
Welsh striker Ched Evans could return to the starting 11 after coming off the bench in the defeat at the Ricoh Arena.
United currently sit in 6th place in the Coca Cola championship on 12 points but the Owls would leapfrog them on goal difference with a win tonight.
The home side have one win and two draws at Bramall Lane in the league this season whilst Wednesday have won one, drawn one and lost one on their travels.
Wednesday have had the upper hand in recent seasons but prior to last seasons 2-1 away win the Owls had not won at Bramall Lane in over 40 years in a competitive fixture. In the 123 meetings between the two sides the Blades hold a slight edge with 44 wins to the Owls 41.