Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United predicted line-ups: will new Blades stars play in Friday showdown?

Friday night’s match pits two teams who failed to pick up a point in their first games of the season, but who offered up a very different impression. Where Nottingham Forest put a very respectable scrap at the Emirates stadium, Sheffield United struggled to create chances at home to Crystal Palace.

Now the Blades visit the City Ground in need of a much-improved performance having only managed one short on target at Bramall Lane – but will at least have two new faces in midfield to help them in what looks liable to be a long struggle against relegation. Forest, meanwhile, will be looking to give their season a proper kick-start after avoiding relegation last May, and while they looked pretty decent against Arsenal it’s fair to say that failure to win this one could signal another basement battle in the offing.

Forest forwards edging towards first team

Forest haven’t added any new faces since the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last Saturday, but Taiwo Awoniyi will be closer to full match fitness after playing the last 20 minutes in the curtain raiser. Steve Cooper was keen to single him out for praise in his pre-match press conference, saying that he “made us better” after coming on and scoring, but he may still not quite be ready to start as the Tricky Trees nurse the Nigerian back to health.

Anthony Elanga, who set up Awoniyi’s consolation goal from the bench last weekend, could challenge Danilo for his space in the starting line-up – or send the Brazilian back into his more familiar midfield berth - but with no new injury problems to contend with the starting XI will likely look familiar. Omari Richards, Wayne Hennessey and Felipe are all still on the treatment table and won’t play any part.

Nottingham Forest predicted line-up

Turner; Boly, Worrall, McKenna; Aurier, Yates, Mangala, Aina; Danilo, Johnson, Gibbs-White.

Midfield reinforcements ready to rumble for Sheffield United

The visitors went into last weekend’s defeat to Palace without talismanic midfielder Sander Berge after his departure for Burnley, but have at least replaced him in time for their first away game of the season. Combative midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who impressed in the Championship with Coventry City last year, could well slot straight into the starting line-up, while they have also signing former Everton midfielder and fashion victim Tom Davies.

Davies is likely to start on the bench at best, having missed out on a proper pre-season, while George Baldock, Max Lowe and Oli McBurnie are all expected to be available despite fitness concerns. Jayden Bogle, Rhian Brewster, John Fleck and Rhys Norrington-Davies will not feature with ongoing injury problems, while there has been no update on the fitness of Ismaila Coulibaly or Daniel Jebbison at the time of writing. Auston Trusty could start after sitting on the bench last Saturday, with Jack Robinson the most at risk of losing his place to the American.

Sheffield United predicted line-up

Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Trusty; Baldock, Hamer, Norwood, Lowe; Traoré, Osula, Osborn.