Central defender Jason De Vos is back in the Town squad for Saturday's trip to table-topping Sheffield United. The Canadian is likely to return to the side after cracking ribs in the opening day of the season home victory over Cardiff City.

Fabian Wilnis looks likely to be the man making way for De Vos, the Dutchman having performed so ably as a makeshift centre-half that boss Joe Royle now considers him a centre-half first and a full-back second.

Royle says he is happy with his backline now De Vos is back and youngster Jay McEveley has joined on a season-long loan from Blackburn: "I now have no worries about our ability to defend. We know what Jason and Richard [Naylor] can do and Jay can either play at left-back or in the centre.

"And we must not forget Fabian Wilnis who has filled in for Jason magnificently since the first match of the season.

"The back four player who does not make the starting line-up on Saturday can consider himself unlucky."

McEveley looks set to make his debut at left-back with Naylor and De Vos reunited at the heart of the defence. Spaniard Sito, one of the stars of the season so far, looks set to continue at right-back.

Striker Nicky Forster is back in training after his cartilage operation but is unlikely to be available for selection until the beginning of October. Town's other first team regular on the sidelines is Ian Westlake who damaged ankle ligaments in training and faces up to six weeks out. Jimmy Juan also misses out due to a foot injury.

Royle is not planning on looking for a loan signing to replace Westlake ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane but could make a move for a short-term signing next week.

Against the Blades, Royle could use Matt Richards as a left-sided replacement for Westlake depending on his choice of formation.

The Town manager will have to decide whether to stick with the 4-5-1 formation which worked when employed in the away game at Millwall but failed so spectacularly at home to Preston, or return to his more usual 4-4-2. Royle appears to have ruled out a three-man central defence.

In either case Sam Parkin will play up front, with Dean Bowditch or Dean McDonald his partner if Royle chooses to field two strikers.

Jim Magilton and Kevin Horlock may be joined in the centre of a midfield five by Owen Garvan, with Darren Currie likely to be on the right.

Town are unbeaten in the league at Bramall Lane since the Blades defeated them 3-0 in the 92/93 season. Last year the Blues won the corresponding fixture 2-0.

Boss Neil Warnock is full of praise for summer signing Keith Gillespie for his role in Northern Ireland's victory over England on Wednesday night: "What Keith and Northern Ireland have achieved is a lesson for us all here. We've got plenty of ability here at the club but it also goes to show how far organisation, effort and belief can take you.

"Quite simply, Keith is good enough to play for any team in the country at the moment, he'd get in anywhere.

"It's amazing to think that just a couple of months ago nobody wanted him, he'd left Leicester City and he'd been discarded by Leeds after a spell training there but I knew what type of ability he's got and so I gave him a year-long deal.

"That's been the secret, Keith needs to feel wanted and the boys absolutely love him here. He's fitted in really well and he's enjoying himself. That is showing in his football."

Warnock, manager of the month for August, is keen to bring in another striker after Andy Gray and Billy Sharp were sold, but missed out on Sunderland's Chris Brown who joined Hull instead. The Blades boss says he is in no hurry to land an extra frontman with Danny Webber, Steve Kabba and Neil Shipperley already in his squad.

Former Town loanee David Unsworth recently joined United from Portsmouth on a free transfer and scored on his debut, having done the same for the Blues last season, ironically at Bramall Lane.

Saturday's referee is select group official Phil Dowd from Staffordshire who has shown a fearsome 22 yellow cards in six games this season, although he is yet to produce a red. Dowd last refereed the Blues in the 2001/02 Premiership defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Squad: Bowditch, Currie, De Vos, Garvan, Horlock, Magilton, McEveley, McDonald, Naylor, Parkin, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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