Today is a big day at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United welcome Watford to S2, looking to get back on track after two successive defeats.
Defeats against Middlesbrough and then Millwall have seen United drop to just four points to second placed Boro at this point. The Blades have a game to play but a win over Watford is seen as imperative.
Paul Heckingbottom knows he has to get his starting XI going. He has several players pressing to open and could have some big decisions to make.
The boss of the Blades admitted in his press conference that he will make changes in the next games. But against Watford, he just has to get things going from minute one.
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Billy Sharp was back in full practice and will be pushing for a few minutes. Likewise, George Baldock is also back in training and could be included in the bench.
Ciaran Clark and John Fleck are pushing to start after playing for the under-21s and coming back from injury.
Above, Iliman Ndiaye is 100% after a hit and is expected to start.
United remain without Enda Stevens, Will Osula and Jack O’Connell, while Rhian Brewster and Rhys Norrington-Davies are nowhere near a return just yet either.
Expected Sheffield United XI v Watford
With Fleck back in the mix, you may be hoping to get the nod in midfield, but we think Heckingbottom could return to the more solid midfield two of Doyle and Norwood. This will allow Sander Berge to move forward and be more effective.
Berge and Ndiaye should support Oli McBurnie as a three-pronged attack. On the left, Max Lowe has been in bad shape of late but will keep his place ahead of Ben Osborn.
It is in defense where the changes will come. Ciaran Clark should start ahead of Jack Robinson, while Anel Ahmedhodzic has to come back for Chris Basham if he is 100%.
Here, then, is our Sheffield United forecast for the crucial clash with Slaven Bilic’s Hornets.
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