Barnsley v Sheff Utd preview

Foster out for Tykes while Blades struggle to name XI players

Last updated: 9th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Barnsley v Sheff Utd preview

Hume: Fractured skull in last clash with Blades

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Sheffield United make the short trip to Oakwell on Monday night when they face Barnsley in a Yorkshire derby.

The Blades' season has, so far, not gone according to plan largely thanks to an agonisingly long injury list.

Kevin Blackwell's side's plight is perhaps better highlighted by the fact that they currently reside on the same number of points as the Tykes and some 10-points off the play-offs.

However Barnsley manager Mark Robins has impressed since joining the club in September and the win against Peterborough last weekend ended a run of two straight defeats to lift them to 18th in the Championship table.

Tykes news

Barnsley will be without suspended skipper Stephen Foster after he received his fifth booking of the season in last week's win at Posh and subsequently serves a one-game ban.

Robins will choose between either Bobby Hassell or O'Neil Thompson to step up and partner Darren Moore in Foster's absence.

Robins has no other new injury or suspension problems and is unlikely to make too many changes to last week's line-up.

Jon Macken and Daniel Bogdanovic hope to spearhead the Tykes' attack once again after both scored at Peterborough.

But Iain Hume will be keen to return to the starting line-up versus the Blades, against whom he fractured his skull in November last year.

Blades news

Blackwell will struggle to field 11 players for the derby clash. The Blades chief was without nine first-team players for last week's home defeat to Newcastle and then lost Kyle Walker to an ankle ligament injury and skipper Chris Morgan, who is suspended after reaching five yellow cards for the season.

Morgan's absence means he will not come up against Iain Hume - 12 months after his controversial aerial challenge left the Tykes striker with a fractured skull.

Defender Jordan Stewart strained his calf during the warm-up on Monday night and was forced to play due to the injury crisis, but he has now also been ruled out.

Gary Naysmith, Derek Geary (both knee), Richard Cresswell (ribs), Jamie Ward (broken wrist), Nick Montgomery (knee), Lee Williamson (back), Andrew Davies (knee), Andrew Taylor (thigh) and Paddy Kenny (suspended) are all out.