Sheffield United Eye Season-defining Steel City Derby at Hillsborough | OneFootball

The Steel City derby has always been one of English football’s most fiercely contested fixtures, but this upcoming clash between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday carries an extra layer of significance given their positions in the bottom three.

With the international break offering a brief pause in the Championship calendar, both sides have time to regroup before what could prove a pivotal moment in their respective seasons. For United in particular, this derby feels like a chance to reignite their campaign or risk sliding deeper into trouble.

Sheffield United Have Opportunity to Reset Ahead of Season-defining Steel City Derby

Japhet Tanganga winning a header for Sheffield United against Queens Park Rangers at Bramall Lane. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

United’s start to the Championship campaign has been anything but smooth. The Blades currently sit in the relegation zone in 22nd place, having endured a torrid run of form that saw them lose three consecutive matches, conceding three goals in each of them, before grinding out a goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers.

Defensive frailties have been their undoing, and barring in mind, this is a team that signed a plethora of centre-backs in final days of the summer transfer window: Ben Mee, Mark McGuinness, and Japhet Tanganga. Manager Chris Wilder may have won three games since being back at the helm, but patience is wearing thin among supporters due to their inconsistency from a team that was one of the betting favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked.

With the latest international break underway, Wilder has been afforded valuable time to refine tactics, restore confidence, and work on defensive organisation ahead of the Steel City derby. Meanwhile, players carrying knocks have had the opportunity to recover, while others have benefited from a mental reset after a grueling run of fixtures.

Blades Team Could Look Different Amid Boost For Clash at Hillsborough

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Oliver Arblaster of Sheffield United is challenged by Shea Charles of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC at Bramall Lane on November 10, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

The return of Femi Seriki, whose energy, athleticism and width impressed in recent appearances, offers hope down the right flank as an attacking full-back. Plus, with Seriki potentially in line for a start at Hillsborough, this would allow Tanganga to move over to centre-back in his natural position.

Sheffield United could have the talented duo Gustavo Hamer and Oliver Arblaster return to the side. Arblaster’s return against Wednesday would be quite poetic, given that his injury was suffered last November in the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane. If he does indeed make the matchday squad, it will likely be as a substitute you would imagine due to him not playing any first-team football for a whole year.

United did the double over Wednesday last season, winning 1-0 both home and away. Achieving a third straight derby victory would mark their best run against their city rivals in decades, and the psychological boost could be immense given their current relegation form.