Sheffield United return to Championship action after a four-week World Cup break with the chance to go to the top of the table if they beat Huddersfield at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
The Blades broke up for their winter holiday on a run of just one loss in six matches, which has left them three points and one goal behind league leaders Burnley, who play QPR on Sunday.
And they have the perfect opponents to leapfrog Burnley at least for a day, as they face a Huddersfield side that sits dead last in the Championship and have picked up just five wins all season.
Both of United’s World Cup contingent are back at the club and ready to play, and Saturday could be one of the last time the Bramall Lane faithful can watch Iliman Ndiaye as transfer rumours swirl around the Senegalese striker.
He impressed for the Lions of Teranga and has linked with a move to France, with manager Paul Heckingbottom acknowledging he would be prepared to let Ndiaye go if the right bid comes in.
Welsh goalkeeper Adam Davies has also returned from Qatar although he’s expected to resume his back-up role to Wes Foderingham.
Despite limping at the end of Senegal’s round of 16 loss to England, Ndiaye is fit to play and part of a raft of good news for Heckingbottom on the injury front.
Sander Berge, Jayden Bogle, Max Lowe and Tommy Doyle are all available to Heckingbottom, and Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson are both back in training.
Oli McBurnie’s also returned to training after surgery to deal with a hernia issue, but isn’t yet match-fit.
Berge and Doyle should come into midfield in place of Oliver Arblaster and Ben Osborn, but the make-up of the back three is in question as well as the left wing-back position between Lowe and Enda Stevens.
Ahmedhodzic is the favourite to start alongside John Egan in defence, as Rhys Norrington-Davies remains unavailable due to the hamstring injury that cost him a place in the Welsh World Cup squad.
Robinson could also be in contention if he’s fully recovered, or Ciaran Clark could fill the berth, while Chris Basham has made 15 Championship appearances this season and will up against that pair take the final defensive spot.
Even with the uncertainty, United are heavy favourites to kick off their busy Christmas period with a win.
They’re 1/2 on to secure victory, with the Terriers priced at 13/2 to get an upset win in just the third matchup between the sides in the last decade.
That was the last time the Blades tasted victory over their Yorkshire rivals, as they fell to Huddersfield in the League One playoff final a few months later.
But this time everything points to a home victory, keeping the Blades in contention at the top of the table.
