Former England international Michael Owen is anticipating an entertaining encounter when Sheffield United play Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.

The Blades will have had less rest than their opponents going into the fixture after playing against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening, but their match sharpness should be much higher after 90 minutes of competitive action.

Owen feels that Chris Wilder’s side will keep it tight at the back, and they should come away with at least a point from St James’ Park:

“Sheffield United are flying high in the league and are unquestionably there on merit but will have been bitterly disappointed that a goal wasn’t given against Aston Villa on Wednesday when the Villans’ keeper Orjan Nyland clearly carried the ball over his own line.”

“They don’t concede many goals, they grind out results and are brilliant on the eye as well. Newcastle won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in December but I fancy this to end in a lively 1-1 draw.”

It is likely to be a low scoring affair with Newcastle having scored the joint lowest number of goals (25) in the whole Premier League, while Sheffield United have not been much better, having scored just 30.

Wilder will, though, likely use the frustration of the disallowed goal against Villa as motivation for his players this weekend, as the Blades look to continue their march towards an unexpected finish in the European places this season.