Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd preview

Speed: Set for Boro test

Related links

Teams

• Middlesbrough
• Sheffield United

Also see

• Video highlights
• Fixtures
• Table
• Championship stats
• £5 Free Bet
• Fantasy Football
• Play Super 6

Gary Speed prepares for life as Sheffield United manager with a trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Speed was appointed as the South Yorkshire side's new boss on Tuesday following the departure of Kevin Blackwell in the wake of their 3-0 home defeat by QPR.

The 40-year-old inherits a Blades team that could be bottom of the Championship when they kick off at the Riverside.

Fans will be hoping Speed can steer their side to their first win of the season following an opening-day draw at Cardiff and last Saturday's home defeat to QPR, which hastened Blackwell's exit.

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is also without a league victory this season and the Teessiders have only recorded three victories in their last 14 Championship matches.

Boro began the season with season with a 3-1 home defeat to Ipswich before picking up their first point of the season last weekend at Leicester.

Blades news

Speed will be without striker Darius Henderson and defender Ryan France (both knee) and midfielder Lee Williamson (back) while Nyron Nosworthy (unspecified knock) is unlikely to be included.

Young pair Jordan Chappell and Kingsley James, both included in the matchday squad already this season, could feature in Speed's plans after impressing for the reserves again, while defender Matthew Lowton sits out the last game of his three-match ban.

Boro news

Middlesbrough hope to have central defender Matthew Kilgallon in the squad.

The Teessiders are working to finalise the 26-year-old's loan switch from neighbours Sunderland in time for him to be available.

However, skipper Gary O'Neil, who played the second half of last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Leicester, is struggling with illness and a knee problem.

Manager Strachan has been hit too by the loss of defender Seb Hines, who has suffered a reaction to his first 90 minutes since last September on his return from a serious ankle injury for the reserves in midweek, and he is to see a specialist.

Kevin Thomson (fractured fibula), Willo Flood (dislocated knee), Jonathan Franks (herniated disc) and Rhys Williams (pelvic injury) remain on the sidelines, although Tony McMahon (thigh) has returned to training.