Sheffield United face defensive crisis ahead of Man United game

Sheffield United have been dealt a major blow ahead of their game against Manchester United on Wednesday, after John Egan was sent off against Newcastle United on Sunday.

The Irish international received a second yellow card in the second half of Sheffield United's 3-0 loss away to Newcastle.

With Egan now suspended, Chris Wilder is facing a trip to Manchester United on Wednesday without Egan and Jack O'Connell, with the latter suffering an injury from a training ground collision.

Hindering even further, their star goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, will be ineligible, as Sheffield will be playing his parent club, Manchester United, in a crucial game in the race for European football, and specifically, Champions League football.

The game is extremely important, with Manchester United currently on 46 points, and Sheffield United on 44. When it comes to the fixture list, apart from United, the Blades still have to face the likes of Spurs, Wolves, Chelsea and Leicester, with the other games being against Burnley, Everton and Southampton, all of them tough games.

On the other hand, Man United have a much easier run in, facing Brighton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Leicester.

Whatever happens on Wednesday, it will be a tough encounter between the two sides, one hungry to reclaim a spot in the Champions League, whilst the other wanting to cause one of the biggest shocks in the Premier League by qualifying for Europe instantly after coming up from the Championship.