Sheffield Utd vs Man City team news: Seven doubts and six ruled out

Sheffield United are suffering from a plethora of injury issues ahead of this weekend’s Premier League encounter against Manchester City.

The Blades could be without up to 10 players for the clash with the champions at Bramall Lane, with the fitness of six uncertain in the build-up.

Paul Heckingbottom will hope George Baldock is available after missing last week’s trip to Nottingham Forest with a knock. “George had a slight problem with his calf that we didn’t want to risk,” he explained after the match.

Sheffield United could also welcome back Ollie McBurnie after the striker missed the opening two matches of the campaign with an ankle injury. “He’s another one who missed pre-season,” Heckingbottom said on Saturday. “As you normally get, there’s stiffness and soreness and he said I’ve waited this long so I’ll wait another game.”

Anis Slimane is also struggling with a hamstring issue, Max Lowe has ankle problem and Daniel Jebbison has been struggling with a groin injury in recent weeks - all three are doubts for Sunday’s match against City. Ismaila Coulibaly returned to the Under-21 side during the week and played an hour as he continues his recovery from a knee issue, and the midfielder may be an option for Heckingbottom this weekend.

Jayden Bogle is unlikely to be involved as he missed all of pre-season and the losses to Crystal Palace and Forest through injury, while Rhys Norrington-Davies, John Fleck and Rhian Brewster are longer-term issues.

As for City, they don’t have the same level of problems, although there will be one notable absence for Sunday’s trip to Yorkshire. Pep Guardiola underwent a back operation during the week and is set to continue his recuperation in Barcelona, meaning it will be Junma Lillo in the dugout at Bramall Lane.

The 57-year-old will be without John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne for the clash, with the latter out until the new year with a hamstring injury while Stones has a knock that will prevent him playing before the September international break.

Bernardo Silva is expected to return, however. The Portugal international, who signed a contract extension on Wednesday, has missed the last two matches with a knock but he should have recovered by the weekend.

Doubt: Lowe, Baldock, Coulibaly, Slimane, Jebbison, McBurnie (Sheffield Utd); Silva (City) Ruled out: Norrington-Davies, Bogle, Fleck, Brewster (Sheffield Utd); Stones, De Bruyne (City).