Sheffield United welcome Luton Town to Bramall Lane in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash in the race for automatic promotion.
Victory would see Sheffield Utd stay second but potentially move as much as ten points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough.
Luton meanwhile can go fourth with a win although a draw would be enough with Norwich not in action until Sunday.
Team News
Tommy Doyle could start for Sheffield Utd after being dropped to the bench in their last two matches, as part of manager – Paul Heckingbottom’s decision to manage the midfielder’s game time to avoid a recurrence of a calf injury.
Iliman Ndiaye (knock) and James McAtee (cramp) are doubtful after being substituted in their midweek win at Reading, whilst Ben Osborn missed that game with a hamstring injury which will now also keep him out of this match.
Anel Ahmedhodzic is back in contention after completing a two-match suspension.
Jack O’Connell (fitness), Enda Stevens (muscle), Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rhian Brewster (both hamstring) remain ruled out.
Luton could be without defender, Reece Burke as he nears a return from a groin injury.
Luke Freeman (groin) and Dan Potts (hamstring) both remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Luton at Bramall Lane on Saturday 11 March in a 3pm GMT kick-off, untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd are unbeaten in their last six meetings against Luton (W3, D3).
- Luton have won just one of their last six league visits to Sheffield Utd (W1, D1, L4).
- Sheffield Utd have kept clean sheets in three of their last five meetings against Luton.
- None of Iliman Ndiaye’s 10 league goals for Utd have been scored from the penalty spot this season.
- No Luton player has contributed more league goals this season than Carlton Morris, who has scored 14 goals and created four assists in 34 league appearances.
Prediction
Despite scraping a midweek victory at Reading, Sheffield Utd certainly can’t afford to lift the gas any more with Boro beginning to breath down their necks but they are currently in a hectic run of fixtures and Ndiaye could be a huge loss up front if he isn’t available for selection.
Luton though are a rock solid team who do boast plenty of threats and are in strong form with just two league defeats since Xmas, although they’ve grinded out results in recent weeks underlining how fearless these Hatters will be at Bramall Lane.
On that note, I do expect a tough contest between two teams challenging for promotion but if Ndiaye is absent, I would fancy Luton to edge it despite their poor record at the Blades.
Prediction: Sheffield United 0-1 Luton
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