Town boss Joe Royle has no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's trip to Sheffield United. Royle revealed earlier in the week that Spanish striker Pablo Couñago will not be involved at Bramall Lane after another disappointing reserves performance against Coventry on Monday.

New loan signing David Unsworth, who has been given the number 16 shirt, comes straight into the side at left-back with Danny Karbassiyoon dropping to the bench.

Royle's main dilemma again centres around his midfield where he has five players vying for four positions. Skipper Jim Magilton missed out against Reading after suffering with a hamstring injury in the days running up to the game but could well return at Bramall Lane.

Tommy Miller and Kevin Horlock have also dropped to the bench for matches over the last few weeks and either may miss out again. Ian Westlake wasn't involved against Coventry, although that was due to a suspension, and his box-to-box running was missed that day.

Darren Currie will come up against a club where his uncle Tony is a legend for the first time in a Town shirt. The former England international now fronts the club's Football in the Community programme. Currie junior scored against the Blades at Bramall Lane earlier in the season while playing for Brighton.

Elsewhere, Town are likely to be unchanged with Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent continuing up front, with Dean Bowditch itching to get off the bench and remind Joe Royle of his considerable abilities.

Defender Drissa Diallo remains Town's only long-term injury but is likely to be involved in the reserves game against Leicester on February 14th. The Guinean international picked up a hamstring problem in training just before Christmas.

French loanee Jimmy Juan is also on the sidelines at present after picking up a foot injury in last week's away reserve game at Highfield Road.

Like Town, Sheffield United managed to hold on to their promising youngsters during the January transfer window, with Phil Jagielka and Michael Tonge remaining their most highly prized assets.

Volatile boss Neil Warnock has added veteran Chinese international striker Hao Haidong to his squad and is still pursuing Stoke frontman Ade Akinbiyi, although neither seem likely to be involved against the Blues.

Midfielder Alan Quinn will return to the side after missing last week's FA Cup tie with West Ham due to suspension, while Warnock had the chance to assess three of his frontmen on Tuesday when Ashley Ward, Danny Cadamarteri and Paul Shaw were all involved in a reserve game with Stoke.

Saturday's referee is Richard Beeby who has already taken control of two games involving Town this season, the away defeat at Derby in August and the home win over Wigan just before Christmas. The Northamptonshire official has shown 69 yellow and eight red cards in 26 games this season.

Squad: Bent, Bowditch, Currie, Davis, De Vos, Horlock, Karbassiyoon, Kuqi, Magilton, Miller, Naylor, Price, Richards, Unsworth, Westlake, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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