Why Wes Foderingham has missed Sheffield United's last two games and is also set to sit out Manchester City's visit to Bramall Lane

The former Rangers goalkeeper, who joined Chris Wilder’s squad on a free transfer during the close season, featured on the bench during United’s first four outings of the new Premier League campaign and started last month’s Carabao Cup tie against Burnley.

But Michael Verrips was named as Aaron Ramsdale’s deputy for both Fulham’s visit to South Yorkshire and the trip to Liverpool six days ago.

Explaining the Dutchman’s sudden promotion and also Foderingham’s absence, Wilder told The Star: “With Wes, he’s had a little bit of an issue with one if his hands, but he’s not out for too long we don’t think. That’s why Michael has been on the bench.”

United will enter the lunchtime fixture searching for their first win of the season, after losing five and drawing one of their last six games. However, Wilder is adamant a victory is not far away after scrutinising United’s performance on Merseyside.

City travel to South Yorkshire in chequered form on the domestic front but boosted by a 3-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League earlier this week. Pep Guardiola, Wilder’s opposite number, made a series of tactical adjustments during that tie, selecting Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling on the wings to compensate for the loss of strikers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus to injury. Ferran Torres, deployed as a makeshift centre-forward, helped City break the French club’s low block.

“They find a way, the same as everybody else,” Wilder said.