Games against our Midlands rivals always cause up a stir; during the previous League and Cup meetings (including the Blades 3-1 home victory this season) has seen the teams neck and neck with three wins each; whilst during these games the Blades have netted 19 times to a reply of 16 from Wanderers. In all this could turn out to be an interesting fixture...
Wolverhampton boss Mick McCarthy will be keen to claim all three points at Molineux in their quest for promotion to the Premier League; but will have to face the Blades without Michael Kightly (ankle), and duo keepers Matt Murray and Graham Stack.
Highly rated defender Gary Breen (knee) could be in contention whilst former Blades loan star Jody Craddock should make a return to the starting eleven.
Craddock was signed on loan at the beginning of the 1999-00 season and started ten games before returning to Sunderland.
Defender Neill Collins could also start against his former club; he was signed during February 2006 loan and stared on his debut in a 2-1 away victory at Sheffield Wednesday; he played a further game against Queens Park Rangers (lost 3-2) before return to Sunderland.
Possible Wanderers Line-Up: Wayne Hennessey, Darren Ward, Neill Collins, Darron Gibson, Michael Gray, Kevin Foley, Matt Jarvis, Seyi George Olofinjana, Karl Henry, Stephen Elliott, Jay Boothroyd.
Sheffield United travel to Molineux in what is the Blades first game in the year 2008 and hand as full debut to Gary Speed. The aging midfielder is expected to have completed a loan deal to the Blades from Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday morning in time to face Wolves.
Sheffield United could give striker Rob Hulse a start following his successful return to match action at Cardiff City despite a 1-0 defeat - the striker has made his long return recovery since he broke his leg last March at Chelsea.
Meanwhile skipper Chris Morgan (ankle) is in doubt after he injured his leg at Ninian Park and needed to be replaced by former Preston defender Chris Lucketti.
The Blades are also likely to be without star striker James Beattie (knee) who will be replaced by Rob Hulse - the Championships top scorer with 13 goals was forced off injured during the 1-1 draw with Blackpool on Boxing Day.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Phil Bardsley, Chris Lucketti, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, Keith Gillespie, Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, David Carney, Rob Hulse, Billy Sharp.
:: Last Five Meetings ::
at Molineux...
- 22.11.2005 - Wolves 0-0 Blades
- 08.05.2005 - Wolves 4-2 Blades
- 05.10.2002 - Wolves 1-3 Blades
- 29.12.2001 - Wolves 1-0 Blades
- 12.10.2000 - Wolves 0-0 Blades
:: Man in the Middle ::
Referee: L. Mason (Lancashire)
Assistants: A. Garratt & S. Tincknell
Fourth Official: R. Beeby
- 23.03.2004 - Blades 1-1 Derby County
- 27.11.2004 - Blades 3-3 Wolverhampton
- 30.04.2005 - Blades 0-1 Millwall
- 06.08.2005 - Blades 4-1 Leicester City
- 31.12.2005 - Blades 2-1 Stoke City
- 24.10.2006 - Blades 2-4 Birmingham (LC)
- 30.12.2006 - Blades 1-0 Arsenal
- 30.01.2007 - Blades 2-0 Fulham
- 27.10.2007 - Hull City 1-1 Blades