The Blades have visited Malta on a summer tour for the past three years, they beat Hibernians 2-1 last season - Harry Maguire was sent-off for a rash challenge before the Red and White Wizards took the lead through Daniel Bogdanovic; the hosts leveled the scores before David McAllister netted a 90th minute winner. United fielded German defender Alex Kruk who was on trial; a report from this match can be read here.
Sheffield United also beat Sliema Wanderers 3-1 with goals from Michael Doyle, Richard Cresswell and Harry Maguire.
Blades boss Danny Wilson revealed that eleven players where released this summer in a big shape up after failing to win promotion to the Championship; James Beattie and ex-Manchester City forward Ched Evans, Steve Simonsen, Andy Taylor, Johannes Ertl, Ched Evans, James Beattie, Connor Brown, Jack Adams, Seamus Conneely, Corey Gregory, Marc Warren and Shane Murray all left but Kevin McDonald, Chris Porter and Lee Williamson have all been offered new deals to stay.
United will be without defender Lescinel Jean-Francois who is sidelined for the summer through injury. However trialists ; Jack Dean (ex-Fulham), Darryl Westlake (ex-Walsall) and Luke Foster (ex- Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United) may also travel with the Blades.
Hibernians finished second in the Maltese Premier League behind Champions Valletta and thus qualified for the early stages of the UEFA Europa League; however they were eliminated in the First Round Qualifying to Bosnia-Herzegovina side FK Sarajevo - drawing 4-4 at home before losing 6-9 on aggregate