By Michael Pavitt
Published: 13:00 EDT, 24 April 2024 | Updated: 14:15 EDT, 24 April 2024
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Sheffield United team news: Arblaster captains Blades as Wilder makes four changes
Eye catching team news for Sheffield United.
Oli Arblaster has been named as captain on just his eighth Premier League appearance for the club.
Wes Foderingham returns in goal as one of four changes. Hamer starts after being passed fit while McBurnie is absent through injury.
Sheffield United: Foderingham, Trusty, Hamer, Archer, Brereton, Ahmedhodzic, Bogle, Osborn, Arblaster, Holgate, Brooks.
Man United team news: Eriksen and Antony start with Rashford absent through injury
Erik ten Hag makes two changes from the FA Cup semi-final with Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford missing out.
Christian Eriksen and Antony come into the starting line-up.
Rashford does not feature in the matchday squad due to injury, but McTominay is fit enough to be named on the bench.
Man United: Onana, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Casemiro, Mainoo, Eriksen, Fernandes, Garnacho, Antony, Hojlund
Team news on the way
Team news from Old Trafford should be with us in the next few minutes.
Will be fascinating to see how Erik ten Hag and Chris Wilder react to their teams’ respective performances at the weekend.
Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford were considered doubts for Man United.
While for the visitors, Oli McBurnie and Gustavo Hamer were question marks.
Hamer looks likely to be involved… given the Blades have posted a photo of him arriving at the ground.
Old Trafford is hosting one of four Premier League matches this evening, with the Merseyside derby taking the prime billing.
Jurgen Klopp will lead his Liverpool side into a final derby clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Could the Reds come unstuck as they bid to go level with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League?
My colleague Harry Bamforth is across the action on Merseyside, as well as providing updates from Wolves clash with Bouremouth and Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
Follow along with the action here
Kobbie Mainoo has been one of the shining lights of a challenging season for Man United.
The teenager has made 25 appearances for United during his breakthrough season.
Mail Sport understands the England international is expected to be rewarded with a third new contract in as many years this summer.
You can read all the latest from Old Trafford in Mail Sport’s latest Man United Confidential.
Sheffield United on brink of equalling Derby record
Without wishing to add further salt to Sheffield United wounds, the Blades are one goal away from equalling Derby’s record of 89 goals conceded in a 38 match Premier League season.
The all-time record is held by Swindon Town, who shipped 100 over a 42 match campaign.
Defintiely something Sheffield United will want to avoid breaking.
Wilder admits mood ‘as negative as it has been’ after Burnley defeat
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has admitted the mood has been ‘as negative as it has been’ in the aftermath of their 4-1 loss to Burnley on the weekend.
Wilder said the Blades had hopes of picking up points against Brentford and Burnley in their last two fixtures, but suffered 2-0 and 4-1 defeats.
The results have left Sheffield United 10 points from safety with five matches remaining.
The feel around the club and ground was very, very down and negative after that, possibly as negative as it has been. We had an opportunity to pick up some points and we haven’t and that has impacted our league position incredibly,’ Wilder said.
We have to quickly get on. There are big decisions to make from a selection point of view. It is a disappointing feeling we have got at the moment and it can only be rectified by a positive result and performance at Old Trafford.
Blades aiming to stun Man United again
As mentioned by Nathan, Sheffield United were winners on their last visit to Old Trafford in January 2021.
Goals from Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke saw Sheffield United come away with all three points during one of the Covid-era matches at an empty Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire grabbed Man United’s goal on that occasion against his former side.
Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke saw Sheffield United come away with all three points during one of the Covid-era matches at an empty Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire grabbed Man United’s goal on that occasion against his former side.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side eventually finished as Premier League runners-up, while Sheffield United finished bottom. One of those things looks like being repeated…
A chill in the Old Trafford air
Nathan Salt, Mail Sport, at Old Trafford:
A lovely clear night here at Old Trafford, albeit with a bit of chill in the air. Can’t tell if this is a good or bad omen – they don’t seem to mean much when it comes to this team – but Manchester United’s only defeat in the past 10 Premier League games against Sheffield United came the last time they met at Old Trafford, losing 2-1 in January 2021… Erik ten Hag simply CANNOT afford a repeat of that or it really is over and out for him
As mentioned, Ten Hag went on the attack in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday when responding to suggestions the penalty shoot-out win over Coventry was ’embarrassing’.
‘You made (asked) the question, “is it embarrassing?” No, the reaction from you was embarrassing. The comments are a disgrace,’ Ten Hag said.
‘Top football is about results. We made it to a final and we deserved it, not only by this game but also the other games. We lost control for 20 minutes, we also had bad luck for 3-2 and 3-3. We were very lucky in the end, clear.
‘We were not happy with it. I can see the fans are not happy with it as well, but they get fed by opinions. But all over, what I heard is that the fans are very happy we are again in the FA Cup final.
It is a huge achievement. Twice in two years is magnificent. For me as a manager, five cup finals in four years.’
Mail Sport’s Nathan Salt writes that while Ten Hag has come out fighting with the media this week, it is now time for his side to do so on the pitch.
Man United seek to quieten the noise
Has a victory in an FA Cup semi-final ever generated as much doom and gloom?
Man United’s penalty shoot-out victory over Coventry on Sunday, via a collapse from a 3-0 lead, has provoked renewed focus around Erik ten Hag and the squad.
Ten Hag has come out fighting ahead of tonight’s Premier League match with rock bottom Sheffield United.
The Dutchman branded the reaction to the FA Cup semi-final as ‘a disgrace’.
Man United could certainly do with quietening the noise tonight with what should be a routine home assignment against a Sheffield United side seeming destined for the Championship.
Chris Wilder and the Blades will have other ideas, with visitors bidding to breath some life into their flickering survival hopes.
Stay with us for all the build-up and action from Old Trafford.
Key Updates
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Sheffield United team news: Arblaster captains Blades as Wilder makes four changes
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Man United team news: Eriksen and Antony start with Rashford absent through injury
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Blades aiming to stun Man United again
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A chill in the Old Trafford air
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Man United seek to quieten the noise
