Oli McBurnie to start tonight with Billy Sharp ?
Tuesday, 13th Sep 2022 10:21 by Swansea Independent

Sheffield United are pleading player poverty when it comes to selections for tonight’s game against Swansea City at the swansea.com stadium. McBurnie is destined to start the game with Billy Sharp who is back from injury. However, it’s in defence where the blades have problems.

Ex swan Oli McBurnie has scored in each of his sides last three games and has definitely seen a return to form. The striker is still on bail for assault after an incident at the end of last season but pleads not guilty to any criminal motive. The striker is accused of assaulting Nottingham Forest supporter George Brinkley, 26, as chaos erupted at the Championship play-offs. His provisional trial date is December 7th this year. On the pitch It also helps that Oli McBurnie has rediscovered his touch in front of goal. He'd gone forty three league games without finding the net until he headed the blades equaliser at Luton last month, but now has three in three. That’s a sure sign he will be a real pain in the side this evening.

With Max Lowe now missing and manager Paul Heckingbottom not expecting Ciaran Clark, Enda Stevens or Ben Osborn to be back, he has a selection poser on the left of defence. That could see Rhys Norrington-Davies revert to a wing back role.

Sheffield United haven’t lost since the opening day of the season and now head up the championship with slow starting Norwich City. The swans have won only two of their eight games so far with three draws and three losses. Tonight’s game will be a good gauge as to where Russell Martin’s side are. He isn’t expected to deviate too far from the side that beat QPR and we hear today Steven Benda will again start in goal. The recent form of Oli Cooper should mean he starts just behind Joel Piroe up front.

Oli Cooper has been a revelation this season

With two home games to go now before the international break the swans will be hoping tonight’s test and then the game on Saturday against Hull City will build on the 1-0 victory against QPR.

The swans kick off against Sheffield United tonight at 7.45pm.