The Blades reached the fifth round after seeing off Bolton Wanderers (1-0) at the Reebok Stadium and Manchester City (2-1) at Bramall Lane in the much controversial 'Balloon' escapade. However the last time the Blades saw match action was last Tuesday when the red and white wizards visited the Hawthorns and escaped with a 0-0 draw..
Yet despite a precious point in the midlands it cost Bryan Robson his job has he left Bramall Lane after declining an internal role, former 'Assistant Manager' Kevin Blackwell will now take charge until the end of the season.
United will be without centre-half Ugo Ehiogu (knee) who is currently injured after being forced off injured during the 0-0 home draw with Scunthorpe United on 9 February.
Ehiogu, a former England international (4 caps, 1 goal) was signed for £8,000,000 by Bryan Robson when in charge of Middlesbrough. He was signed from Aston Villa in October 2000 and went onto make 142 (+ 10 as a substitute) appearances for the Riverside club and score eight goals before joining Glasgow Rangers in January 2007.
Meanwhile, midfielder Gary Speed (groin) is a major doubt after being substituted during the goal less draw at the Hawthorns.
It is unclear as to the line-up whilst will be selected, but the Blades will be without new loan signing Davis Coterill (from Wigan Athletic) as he is currently cup-tied after playing, and scoring in the Latics 3-0 win at Sunderland in round four.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Derek Geary, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, David Carney, Michael Tonge, Chris Armstrong, Lee Martin, Rob Hulse, Billy Sharp.
Middlesbrough come to Bramall Lane urging fans not bring any balloons after the last round fiasco which cost Manchester City so dearly with Luton Shelton capitalising on a swamped goal area.
Gareth Southgate is likely to hand new signing Afonso Alves his FA Cup debut whilst former Tottenham Hotspur striker Ahmed Hossam Mido returns to the squad after helping his national team, along with former Blade Ahmed Fathi win the African Cup of Nations for Egypt - congratulations to them.
Fellow striker Tuncay Sanli is lacking match fitness despite his fine displays at the Riverside Stadium, whilst Chris Rigott (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (knee) are both injured.
Possible Boro Line-Up: Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, Emanuel Pogatez, David Wheater, Robert Huth, Fabio Rockemback, Julio Arca, Gary O'Neill, Stewart Downing, Dong-Gook Lee, Jeremie Aliadiere
:: Man in the Middle ::
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
- 14.03.1998 - Blades 4-0 Reading
- 26.12.1998 - Birmingham 1-0 Blades
- 03.04.1999 - Barnsley 2-1 Blades
- 28.08.1999 - Blades 2-2 Ipswich Town
- 30.09.2000 - Blades 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
- 18.08.2001 - Blades 0-0 Gillingham
- 09.11.2001 - Wimbledon 1-1 Blades
- 19.01.2002 - Blades 0-0 Nottingham Forest
- 28.09.2002 - Blades 1-2 Watford
- 28.08.2003 - Blades 1-0 Norwich City
- 28.08.2004 - Preston North End 0-1 Blades
- 15.04.2005 - Blades 0-1 Derby County
- 29.10.2005 - Blades 0-0 Cardiff City
- 01.01.2007 - Middlesbrough 3-1 Blades
- 17.03.2007 - Chelsea 3-0 Blades