Clough set to continue Blades rotation policy

The Blades may have a gruelling schedule but you suspect that the games cannot come fast enough for them at the moment.

Clough’s troops are hoping to continue their blossoming late winter form with three points against Bristol City this afternoon and seal a great week as they look ahead to Spring with genuine optimism.

Clough made several changes for the midweek trip to Gillingham and was vindicated by way of the Blades’ second away success of the campaign.

Given the fact that his side have to fit in 11 matches between now and April 1, the rotation policy is set to continue.

Clough, who brought in Matt Hill, Billy Paynter and Stephen McGinn into his starting line-up for the encounter at the Priestfield Stadium said: “It gives you peace of mind that we can make four or five changes and still get a result.

“It has shown, especially over the past few weeks, how important everybody in the squad is. We’ve only 18 or 19 bodies, but all of them will feature at some point.

“From Shaun Miller, who came on for 10 or 15 minutes at Fulham and got us that goal which helped us with the cup run to Matt Hill coming in; everyone is going to have a part to play.”

Wednesday night’s victory was also noteworthy for a debut for recent loan signing Ben Davies, who arrived from Clough’s former side Derby County ahead of the game.

The 32-year-old midfield player has joined on loan for the rest of the season and has a chance to lay his claims for a permanent deal with his Rams contract due to expire in June, when he is expected to be granted a free transfer.

On Davies, who came on for the final 15 minutes against the Gills, Clough added: “We have spoken to Ben about it. But if he impresses, we’ll see.

“Ben is someone we certainly wanted to come and play for us for the past couple of months.”

Conor Coady is also expected to extend his loan from Liverpool after scoring the only goal at Priestfield Stadium.