Everything you need to know about Sheffield United's clash with Tottenham Hotspur

Tonight, Sheffield United play Tottenham Hotspur in their fourth Premier League game since English football returned to action last month.
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The Star’s Bramall Lane correspondent James Shield identifies some of the key figures likely to be involved in the fixture and analyses some of the trends surrounding previous meetings between the two clubs as Chris Wilder’s side go in search of a much-needed win.

The Possible Teams: Sheffield United - Henderson, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Stevens, Norwood, Fleck, Berge, McGoldrick, Sharp. Tottenham Hotspur - Lloris, Davies, Dier., Sanchez, Aurier, Lo Celso, Sissoko, Son, Alli, Bergwijn, Kane.

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The Referee: Chris Kavanagh, who was fourth official when United were denied a clear cut goal by Hawkeye during their recent draw with Aston Villa, takes charge of tonight’s match while Michael Oliver, who refereed that match, is on VAR duties at Stockley Park. Kavanagh, from Lancashire, last oversaw a game involving United in December - impeding John Fleck during the build-up to Manchester City’s opener at the Etihad Stadium. He has yet to send-off a player this term and averages 3.6 cautions per match since August.

The Form Guide: This will be United’s first Premier League match at Bramall Lane since March, having played three away games in a row following Project Restart’s implementation. Drawing one of those and losing two - to Newcastle and Manchester United - Chris Wilder expressed his frustration at the revised schedule following Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Arsenal. Spurs, by contrast, will be on the road for the first time since March. Having lost five of their six outings before the lockdown was announced, Jose Mourinho’s side travel north having drawn with Manchester United and beaten West Ham.

The Record Books: United have won 28 of their previous 91 games against Spurs, with the last of those victories coming during the Londoners’ most recent Premier League appearance at Bramall Lane. A second-half penalty from Phil Jagielka, now back with United following 12 years with Everton, secured all three points for Neil Warnock’s side, after Rob Hulse had cancelled-out Jermaine Jenas’ opener. Spurs, who have beaten United on 36 occasions, have drawn two of their three most recent meetings with the South Yorkshire club. One of those came in the second leg of the 2015 Capital One Cup semi-finals, as they progressed 3-2 on aggregate.

The Danger Man: Harry Kane scored for the 28th time in only 33 appearances for both club and country this season during Spurs’ 2-0 win over West Ham. The centre-forward, who would have missed this fixture through injury had it gone ahead as scheduled in April, has now been on target three times in his last five outings. He netted seven times in November, including a hat-trick during England’s 7-0 win over Montenegro at Wembley. Nine of those 28 efforts have come away from home, the last one being during Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Norwich City in December - one of numerous matches this season overshadowed by a VAR controversy, when Teemu Puuki had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside.

An important message:

Phil Jagielka scored the winning goal for Sheffield United when Tottenham Hotspur last visited Bramall Lane in the Premier League: Simon Bellis/SportimagePhil Jagielka scored the winning goal for Sheffield United when Tottenham Hotspur last visited Bramall Lane in the Premier League: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Phil Jagielka scored the winning goal for Sheffield United when Tottenham Hotspur last visited Bramall Lane in the Premier League: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

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