Sheff Utd v Watford. Match preview

Last updated : 17 August 2009 By Ian Evans

The 20-year-old has been nursing a slight hamstring strain in recent weeks and started on the substitutes' bench at Middlesbrough in the Blades' opening game last Friday.

But the £3million summer signing came through 90 minutes in Wales Under-21s' 4-1 win over Hungary in midweek and is likely to make his full debut, with Blades manager Kevin Blackwell ready to make changes after the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Port Vale.

Mark Bunn, on loan from Blackburn, could return in goal following Ian Bennett's howler on Tuesday night that gifted Vale their second goal. Paddy Kenny remains suspended after failing a drugs test.

Striker Jamie Ward is available again after his two-game ban and will be vying with Darius Henderson and Billy Sharp to partner Evans up front, while David Cotterill, Kyle Walker and David Carney all return from international duty.

Lee Williamson is missing with a back injury and Lee Hendrie is suspended.

Watford can welcome Scott Loach, Jay Demerit and Ross Jenkins back into their squad for the trip to Sheffield United.

Goalkeeper Loach was on England Under-21 duty as the Hornets secured a 2-0 extra-time win over Barnet in the Carling Cup and will come straight back in despite a solid performance from understudy Richard Lee.

Skipper DeMerit, who was away with the USA, will return at centre-half with Adrian Mariappa reverting to right-back and Lee Hodson, who made his first start in midweek, dropping back to the bench.

Midfielder Jenkins should also return to the starting XI after having his first taste of international duty for England's Under-20s.

John Eustace partnered Scott Severin in Jenkins' absence at Underhill.

Sporting Life.