The Boro, managed by Gareth Southgate were relegated from the Premier League last season and no doubt will have to work hard if they are to make a swift return to the top flight. The Riverside club do however have a small injury list - Matthew Bates (knee) and Jeremie Aliadiere (ankle) are both doubts for the game against United.
With Ross Turnbull leaving for Chelsea, veteran keeper Danny Coyne (formerly with Grimsby Town and Leicester City) has been signed, and along with winger Mark Yeates (Colchester United) may make their debuts against the Blades.
Southgate will also be without striker Mido who after a pre-season of uncertainty has left the club to team up with Egyptian outfit Zamalek. However he has immediately been replaced by former Reading forward Leroy Lita who had been in talks with the Blades and could go straight into the squad on Friday night.
As for injuries, the club are also expected to be without duo Brad Jones (ankle) and Gary O'Neil (groin) whom both suffered injuries in pre-season.
Possible Boro Line-Up: Danny Coyne, Justin Hoyte, Robert Huth, Rhys Williams, Jonathan Grounds, Mark Yeates, Josh Walker, Didier Digard, Seb Hines, Jeremie Aliadiere, Leroy Lita.
The Blades have had a great pre-season, winning five out of five friendly's played; with defender Leigh Bromby netting three goals.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell has made six signings to date, whilst further more may join before this preview is online; Keith Treacy (Blackburn Rovers, loan), Kyel Reid (West Ham United), Ryan France (unattached), Andy Taylor (Tranmere Rovers), Ched Evans (Manchester City) and Lee Willismson (Watford) could all make their debuts against the Boro.
However United will travel to the North East without keeper Paddy Kenny who has been suspended by the club after failing a drugs test, with Ian Bennett taking up the number one jersey.
Forward Jamie Ward will be suspended for this fixture, the pint sized striker was handed two yellow cards in the Blades 1-0 Play Off Final defeat to Burnley last May and will now sit out a two match suspension; he will be available for the Championship tie against Watford at Bramall Lane next Saturday.
Fellow striker Darius Henderson (thigh) is reportedly struggling to be fit for the start of the season and is unknown as to when he will return - he last featured for the Blades in the 1-1 draw with Preston North End in the Semi-Final first leg of the Championship Play-Offs.
The Blades will also be without Lee Hendrie who is serving a four match suspension and will sit out the fixtures against Middlesbrough, Port Vale, Watford and Leicester City. The former Aston Villa midfielder was handed a red card after the final whistle
at Wembley in May.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Ian Bennett, Leigh Bromby, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Andy Taylor, David Cotterill, Brian Howard, Lee Williamson, Nick Montgomery, Keith Treacy, Ched Evans.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Sheffield United
| Do you think you can Beat The Manager? Why not join our very own Prediction League and cast your predictions on the Blades forthcoming Championship fixtures. The league runs all season long and is a fantastic tool to show how you are as a Blade and as a football fan, so come along and play along!!! |
:: Statistics ::
For Head to Head statistics please click here.
Last 10 Games... Home & Away
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
| 2007/2008 | Wed 27 Feb | Middlesbrough | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| after extra time, 90 minutes 0-0 | |||||
| Sun 17 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 0 | Middlesbrough | F.A. Cup | |
| 2006/2007 | Mon 01 Jan | Middlesbrough | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Premiership |
| Sat 30 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Middlesbrough | Premiership | |
| 1997/1998 | Tue 07 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Middlesbrough | League Division One |
| Sun 05 Oct | Middlesbrough | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 1994/1995 | Mon 17 Apr | Middlesbrough | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Mon 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Middlesbrough | League Division One | |
| 1992/1993 | Tue 09 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Middlesbrough | Premier League |
| Sat 05 Sep | Middlesbrough | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Premier League | |
| Head to Head Statistics... | Goals | |||||
| Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
| Home | 48 | 27 | 11 | 10 | 81 | 44 |
| Away | 48 | 13 | 10 | 25 | 57 | 99 |
|
Total |
96 | 40 | 21 | 35 | 138 | 143 |
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: L. Mason
Assistants: J. Collin and J. Simpson
Fourth Official: S. Atwell