Sheffield United's defence has been one of their best assets so far this season in the Premier League however they will be travelling to Old Trafford without three major segments of their defence.

The Blades have racked up eleven clean sheets so far this season in the Premier League but go into the game with Manchester United on the back of their worst defeat of the season.

  • Blades looking bare at the back

Jack O'Connell has missed both of Sheffield United's game since the restart of the season due to injury, prior to the break he had played every minute of the season. It will be touch and go if he is fit enough to feature at Old Trafford.

In addition to this John Egan saw himself get a red card in the defeat at Newcastle due to picking up two yellow cards. Egan also missed the reverse fixture back in November and was replaced by Phil Jagielka.

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However it has been reported that Jagielka has picked up a injury and that was the reason he has not featured in the two previous Sheffield United games. Jagielka may be in contention on Wednesday but it is unclear to what capacity he would be involved in but he would be the obvious candidate to replace the suspended Egan.

In addition to this it was announced earlier that Panos Retsos has returned to Bayer Leverkusan after a loan spell with the Blades.

Sheffield United loanee Dean Henderson has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league this season, playing a massive part in helping the Blades reach seventh place with eight games to go. He will be unavaliable for selection on Wednesday as Manchester United is his parent club.

  • Alternate possibilities for Chris Wilder

Sheffield United will have to be able to adjust and they will need to improve drastically from their previous two games if they are going to get anything out of Wednesdays game. 

Simon Moore, who was Sheffield United number 1 when they won the League 1 title back in 2017 is expected to fill in for Dean Henderson in between the sticks as he did in the reverse fixture.

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However Michael Verrips could also be in contention to be Wilder's choice of goalkeeper, having played in the FA Cup against Fylde earlier this season but he was forced off after half an hour due to concussion

George Baldock will be in his usual role of right wing back alongside Chris Basham at right centre back. Jagielka would be next in line to play in the defence but it unclear if he is able to start after picking up a knock in training.

Jack Robinson has been filling in at left centre back for O'Connell in his absence from the squad is expected to play but may have to play a slightly different role.

He might have to take up the role of Egan in the centre of the back five if Jagielka is unfit and Enda Stevens may shift from left wing back to left centre back as he did at times last season in the Championship. Ben Osborn would fill the void at left wing back as he did earlier in the season when Stevens was injured.

There is another possibility, Jack Rodwell, who is yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Blades featuring on Wednesday.  Rodwell who signed for Sheffield United in January got injured on his debut in the FA Cup against Fylde and has not featured since. He could fit in at left centre back if Jack O'Connell fails his fitness test.

The Premier League is reaching the home straight of the season and the pressure in the race for the European spots is heating up. Sheffield United's squad is being stretched and so it is up for the players who have not featured as much this season to help them over the line and create history for the club.