Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United are gearing up to take on a tough Blackburn Rovers side at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon. Can the Blades maintain their position in the automatic promotion spots?

Sheffield United do not have any fresh injury concerns – Jack O’Connell is the Blades’ only confirmed absentee, as he continues his arduous rehabilitation.

Will Osula and Newcastle loanee Ciaran Clark are still doubts, however – the pair failed to make the squad in Sheffield United’s previous game against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup. Whether they’ll be ready to play against Blackburn or not is currently unclear.

On a more positive note, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Coulibaly should both be fit to play, as the two featured in the game against Spurs (with Ndiaye even scoring the winning goal).

In their last Championship games, United defeated Watford at Bramall Lane by a score of 1-0. In a dull game that saw few chances created by either team, it was Watford’s Ryan Porteous who broke the deadlock – by heading the ball into his own net. The Hornets couldn’t recover and United took the three points.

Meanwhile, Blackburn were also victorious in their last game, as they defeated QPR away from home by a score of 3-1. A goal on the stroke of halftime from Sammie Szmodics and a brace from Sam Gallagher were enough to see off the Rs and secure a vital win on the road for Rovers.

Sheffield United remain second in the Championship table and are seven points clear of the team in third (Middlesbrough). Additionally, they also have a game in hand over their promotion rivals.