Fellow midfielder Matthew Spring is poised to make his debut for the Blades. Spring joined on a one year loan deal from Luton and has only played in the pre-season friendly against Huddersfield.
Keith Gillespie has ankle ligament damage while James Beattie will also obviously miss out because he has an hamstring problem.
In the Vale team Steve Thompson has the same as Beattie. An hamstring problem will put a dint into the Valiant's chances of progressing.