Sheffield United vs Preston North End – Preview

Sheffield United vs Preston North End – Preview Sheffield United end their home campaign on Saturday afternoon when they host Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston North End. The Blades will be feeling extremely disappointed heading into this game after suffering a shocking 3-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening where they looked extremely lethargic and loose in possession. United have struggled with inconsistency all season and the midweek defeat further highlights this point.

Preston North End travel to South Yorkshire off the back of two defeats, most recently a 2-1 loss away at Birmingham City. After flirting with the idea of a play-off pushing season, the Lancashire outfit have firmly dropped off in the back end of the season, and they now sit 13 points off the top six. Team News United are hoping to get Kalvin Phillips back in some capacity before the end of the season, but nothing will be rushed.

Femi Seriki dropped to the bench in midweek, he could come back into the starting eleven. Former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom could be without Jamal Lewis and Ali McCann for the trip to Bramall Lane. Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game One player who could be crucial for the Blades in this fixture is Gustavo Hamer.

The Dutchman is often the driving force behind Sheffield United’s attacking play and will likely be key to how they attempt to break down Preston’s compact defensive setup. Hamer thrives when he is able to operate in the left-hand side half-space and dictate the tempo. His ability to carry the ball forward with power and commit defenders is huge, particularly against a side that prefers to sit deep and remain organised.