Sheffield United and Burnley will square off at Bramall Lane on Saturday in an important game at the top end of the Championship table.

Following back-to-back wins, the hosts sit third in England's second tier, six points worse off than their visitors who maintained their healthy lead at the summit of the division with a dramatic win over Rotherham United in midweek.

Match preview

Sheffield United have already experienced highs and lows in the Championship so far this season, as they started with 23 points from their opening 10 games and went into the September international break at the top of the table.

The Blades would not return from the break in the same form, though, going without a victory in their next six games and only collecting three points courtesy of draws with Birmingham City, Blackpool and Norwich City.

Following that last share of the spoils with Norwich, Paul Heckingbottom's side managed to make an important return to winning ways away at West Bromwich Albion last Saturday, as Iliman Ndiaye and Oli McBurnie both got on the scoresheet in the first half of a 2-0 triumph.

Aiming to make it two wins on the bounce, the Blades would then travel to Bristol City on Tuesday, and after withstanding intense pressure for large portions of the contest, they stood strong to see out a 1-0 victory thanks to Ndiaye's headed goal early in the second half.

Having now moved back within a point of the top two after previously leading the division, Sheffield United will aim to take another crucial three-point haul against the new top side and one of their main rivals for promotion on Saturday to cut the gap to three between the two teams.

That will be no easy task, though, as Burnley arrive on the back of four straight league wins which have given them a cushion at the summit of the Championship.

Since a narrow defeat away at Watford in the third round of league fixtures, the Clarets have gone 16 games unbeaten in England's second tier under the management of Vincent Kompany, taking their tally to 38 points from 19 outings, while no other side has matched their attacking record with 35 goals on the board.

Following victories over Coventry City and Swansea City, the Lancashire outfit had to settle for a draw away at Birmingham City, but they have quickly started a new winning run, firstly triumphing 4-2 away at Sunderland and 1-0 at home to fellow relegated outfit Norwich City before making it three on the bounce with a 2-1 win against Reading thanks to Anass Zaroury's last-gasp equaliser.

The Clarets again won late on in their most recent contest at home to Rotherham United on Wednesday, as Kompany's side trailed going into injury time before Manuel Benson levelled the scores at two goals apiece and Halil Dervisoglu found the net in the 10th added minute to snatch all three points.

Now full of confidence from two victories in dramatic fashion to extend their lead at the top of the table, Burnley will aim to further strengthen their bid for an immediate return to the Premier League with what would be a hugely important victory away at one of the sides hot on their heels.

Team News

While Sheffield United's injury woes have eased recently on the whole, with the likes of Billy Sharp, John Fleck, Enda Stevens, Jack Robinson and Ciaran Clark all back available for selection, they may again be without important midfielder Tommy Doyle, who missed the Bristol City game with a calf issue, while Max Lowe, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Jayden Bogle, Sander Berge and Rhian Brewster are also ruled out.

Centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic will return to contention after serving a suspension last time out, although Heckingbottom could stick with the back three of Chris Basham, John Egan and the returning Robinson after Tuesday's clean sheet, while Fleck should again partner Oliver Norwood in midfield in Doyle's likely absence.

After being rested from the start against Bristol City, Oli McBurnie will come back in to lead the Blades' line on Saturday, having hit seven goals in his last 12 league appearances, and he will be joined by star man Iliman Ndiaye, who boasts eight goals and two assists in the second tier so far this term.

Burnley will be missing key midfielder Josh Brownhill through suspension on Saturday, while Ashley Westwood and Josh Cullen remain out of action through injuries alongside Scott Twine and Darko Churlinov.

Those absences in midfield mean Samuel Bastien will likely come in to join Jack Cork in the engine room on Saturday, while Kompany has an abundance of options in the attacking areas with Jay Rodriguez set to lead the line, having netted a joint-high tally of nine goals in the Championship thus far, while Nathan Tella has also shone since arriving on loan from Southampton.

Manuel Benson and Halil Dervisoglu will be knocking on the door for starting berths after scoring decisive goals off the bench against Rotherham, while winger Vitinho has recently operated as a full-back with Jordan Beyer joining Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the middle of the defence.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn, Stevens; McBurnie, Ndiaye

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Muric; Vitinho, Beyer, Harwood-Bellis, Maatsen; Cork, Bastien; Benson, Tella, Zaroury; Rodriguez

We say: Sheffield United 1-1 Burnley

Burnley make the trip to Bramall Lane in a formidable run of form, but they face one of their toughest tests so far against a strong Blades side who have regained some momentum with consecutive wins on the road, and we anticipate a share of the spoils as a result with both sides boasting some of the league's best records at both ends of the pitch.

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