Swansea 0 Sheffield United 0: Post-match reaction as Blades pick up first point of season in Wales

and Slavisa Jokanovic’s answer to the problem ‘how do I fit in all my strikers’ is seemingly to play four of them from the start, with Sharp coming into the team that lost to Birmingham - McBurnie on the bench on his return to Swansea

and Slavisa Jokanovic’s answer to the problem ‘how do I fit in all my strikers’ is seemingly to play four of them from the start, with Sharp coming into the team that lost to Birmingham - McBurnie on the bench on his return to Swansea

and doesn’t look in too bad a mood after the latest bid from Arsenal for him was rejected earlier this week ...

Oli McBurnie admits he is looking forward to catching up with a few old friends from Swansea this evening – but only after the game, admitting that getting three points for Sheffield United at the Liberty Stadium is the priority in his mind.

McBurnie arrived at United from the Swans after a successful season in Wales, and retains a number of friends at the club. He returns to watch them when his commitments allow – but won’t be taking things easy this evening, if he’s selected to play.

Sheffield United have moved a step closer towards signing Ben Davies from Liverpool, according to national reports today.

Slavisa Jokanovic, the Blades boss, identified the former Preston man as one of his top targets this summer after succeeding Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane.

Sky Sports report today that United have secured a breakthrough in their chase of Davies, who joined the former Premier League champions in a cut-price deal in January but is yet to play a top-flight game for the Reds.

Davies is expected to join on loan next week, after United agreed to pay a loan fee to secure Davies’ services. The agreement also reportedly contains a promotion bonus should United return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Star’s James Shield identifies some of the major characters set to be involved in the fixture, and analyses some of the themes surrounding the game.

The Possible Teams: City - Benda, Cabango, Bennett, Latibeaudiere, Naughton, Paterson, Grimes, Bidwell, Dhanda, Cullen, Lowe. United - Ramsdale, Osborn, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Norwood, Fleck, Berge, Brewster, McGoldrick, McBurnie.

The Referee: Keith Stroud will take charge, assisted by Ian Cooper and Sam Lewis while Sam Allison is the fourth official. Aged 52 and from Hampshire, Stroud booked five players during last weekend’s draw between Fulham and Middlesbrough and averaged 2.79 cautions per game last term His most recent red card came in January.

The Form Guide: United and City both enter this game searching for their first league wins of the new campaign, having lost to Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers respectively on the opening weekend. They responded by recording wins over Carlisle and Reading in the EFL Cup. City have reached the Championship play-offs in each of the last two seasons while United were relegated from the Premier League last term, having spent two years in the top-flight.

The Opposition Manager: Russell Martin was appointed as City’s new head coach six days before the start of the new campaign, following Steve Cooper’s decision to leave his position. Aged 35, Martin left MK Dons to take up the role. He was capped 29 times by Scotland during a playing career which encompassed spells with the likes of Norwich City, Wycombe Wanderers, Peterborough United and Rangers.

The Former Player: Kyle Naughton made 40 league appearances for United after progressing through their youth system before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2009. He has spent the last six years with City.

and the Blades are back in Championship action at Swansea this evening, looking to build on Tuesday’s win over Carlisle in the EFL Cup and put the opening-day defeat to Birmingham out of their minds - Swansea also lost on the first day and are also getting to grips with a new manager’s methods, so this could be an interesting match-up over the border in Wales...