Blades yet to peak in battle for promotion, says Doyle

Sheffield United will look to cement their place in the League One promotion hunt tomorrow night.
Sheffield United's Michael Doyle. Picture: Martyn Harrison.Sheffield United's Michael Doyle. Picture: Martyn Harrison.
Sheffield United's Michael Doyle. Picture: Martyn Harrison.

For the Blades host Notts County, who sit just one place below United in sixth spot, knowing victory will put them six points clear of seventh-placed Rochdale after 18 games.

For a club who have endured headlines for all the wrong reasons this season surrounding the Ched Evans saga, United’s success on the field under Nigel Clough has flown under the radar.

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But victory tomorrow would see the Blades – who have also reached the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup – cut the gap on leaders Bristol City to just three points.

United captain Michael Doyle believes there is still more to come, with strikers Michael Higdon and Marc McNulty due to return from injury tomorrow after lengthy lay-offs.

“We are still a long way from where we want to be despite a decent start,” he said.

“We haven’t hit top form yet, not by a long way, yet we are fifth in the league, in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and still in the FA Cup, so there is every reason to be optimistic.

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“In the top six we are probably the only team that hasn’t been on a good winning run, so with that hopefully around the corner we will consolidate our position in the play-offs and push on towards the top two, that’s our aim.

“We have got players coming back to fitness now and that will give the manager more options and that is probably something we haven’t had in the last two or three weeks.

“The games are coming thick and fast, it is intense and hopefully, as we head towards Christmas, everyone will make a contribution as we look to strengthen our already healthy position.”

Forward Steven Naismith is among a group of players who have not travelled with Everton for tonight’s Europa League Group H clash with Wolfsburg.

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Naismith is missing due to a hamstring problem, along with Leighton Baines (hamstring), Gareth Barry (ankle), Darron Gibson (knee) and Steven Pienaar (knee).

Tottenham face Partizan Belgrade, but Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul, Etienne Capoue, Andros Townsend, Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose are out.

Cheltenham have confirmed the appointment of Paul Buckle as their new manager on a 12-month rolling contract.