'Quality' - Nigel Clough makes Sheffield United squad admission ahead of Mansfield Town fixture
Sheffield United will get their 2026/27 campaign underway against League One side Mansfield Town on Sunday afternoon in the Carabao Cup.
Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough is expecting to come up against a full-strength Sheffield United side when the two teams go head-to-head in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Sunday afternoon.
United, who were knocked out of the competition at the first hurdle last season after losing 2-1 to Birmingham City at St Andrew's, will make the short trip to the One Call Stadium for their 2026/27 curtain-raiser.
Although it has been a disappointing summer on the transfer front for the Blades, their pre-season results have been encouraging, with Chris Wilder's side recording four wins and two draws from six summer friendlies.
Usually, the league campaign kicks off the new season, with the first round of the Carabao Cup sandwiched between the opening two league games. However, as was the case in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, this campaign will begin with knockout football.
Although it is a competitive fixture, most clubs are likely to treat it as the final dress rehearsal before the league campaign gets underway. That means Clough, who led his side to a 4-3 win over the Blades at Bramall Lane in the third round of the FA Cup last season, is expecting Wilder to field a strong team this weekend.
“You do look at the quality of their squad and see the [Patrick] Bamfords, the [Gustavo] Hamers, who was excellent against us and scored a fantastic goal against us in the FA Cup last season,” Clough told Mansfield’s YouTube channel.
“I think they will still have memories of that as well, so they will have that on their mind, without a doubt. The timing of the competition means that everyone will play close to a full team this weekend as they build up to their first league game.
“That is what we are anticipating from Sheffield United.”