Sheffield United: QPR set for major boost when they eventually face The Blades

The Londoners’ trip to Bramall Lane, which was postponed before Christmas, did not feature on the latest list of rearranged games published by United today which saw new dates unveiled for matches against Hull City and Middlesbrough.

With hardly any room for manoeuvre left in their fixture calendar between now and mid-March, Seny Dieng, Ilias Chair and Ossie Kokay are all expected to be back at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium by the time the Championship clash is rescheduled.

The three players are all on African Cup of Nations duty with their respective countries this month, with the final of the tournament set to be contested in Cameroon on February 6.

MORE – The growing anger among some clubs who fear mass postponements due to Covid-19 are avoidable

Goalkeeper Dieng, who was linked with United before Paul Heckingbottom’s appointment two months ago, is part of the Senegal squad which hopes to lift the trophy for the first time. Chair has been called up by Morocco while Kakay is representing Sierra Leone.

Although he refused to point the finger of blame at any particular club, United manager Paul Heckingbottom accused some teams of triggering “tactical” postponements and rearrangements towards the end of last year following Covid-19 outbreaks.

MORE – Blades could lodge a complaint about the way games are being postponed because of Covid-19/www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-blades-could-lodge-a-complaint-about-the-way-games-are-being-postponed-because-of-covid-19-3512512

Insisting United had been prepared to fulfil all of their obligations, despite reporting a number of positive tests or close contacts themselves, Heckingbottom’s employers are also known to have voiced similar concerns to the English Football League - calling for greater clarification about how the process is being governed.