Sheffield United welcome Newcastle United to Bramall Lane on Thursday evening in what is likely to be a first Premier League encounter in over a decade.
Chris Wilder’s side have their eyes on extending a three-match unbeaten run at Bramall Lane which has seen them taken four points from Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.
On the other hand, Steve Bruce’s side have endured a tough run away from home, losing four of their last five games away from St. James’ Park.
The Blades are currently 7th on the league log after an impressive showing in their opening 14 matches after returning to the Premier League, while struggling Magpies still pursue a top-half of the table finish despite their inconsistency.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Venue: Bramall Lane
Date: Thursday, December 5
Time: 19:30 GMT
Both Sheffield United and Newcastle United have won two games each in their last four previous Premier League meetings, with both sides winning at home once and away once.
Newcastle have won five of their last six meetings with Sheffield United in all competitions, with this the first game between the sides since April 2010 (Newcastle winning 2-1 in the Championship).
Newcastle have won their last two midweek Premier League games after failing to win any of their previous 20 such matches in the competition (D9 L11).
Newcastle have only lost two of their last 21 league games in Yorkshire (W14 D5), with those defeats coming against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship (April 2017) and Huddersfield in the Premier League (August 2017)
Sheffield United have scored three goals in each of their last two Premier League hoe games. They’d only scored 3+ goals in two of their previous 44 at Bramall Lane in the competition.
TEAM NEWS
Chris Wilder will be pleased to hear he has got no injury concerns going into this game with both Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie fully fit to be paired against Newcastle after scoring crucial goals in the last two games for the Blades.
Meanwhile Newcastle continue to be without captain Jamaal Lascelles who is set to return after Christmas with Matt Ritchie also likely to return in January. Florian and Allan Saint-Maximin are all serious doubts for the trip to Bramall Lane.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Sheffield United: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Freeman, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; McBurnie, Mousset.
Newcastle United: Dubravka; Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Willems; Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu; Joelinton.
PREDICTION
Sheffield United 2-1 Newcastle United.
