Sheffield United V Ipswich Town: Speed is forced to switch his priorities

Long-term loanees Kyle Bartley and Nyron Nosworthy are set to play in the centre of defence against Ipswich Town today but Speed remains keen to bring back Belgian international Richie de Laet to Bramall Lane for a second spell on loan from Manchester United.

"We were looking okay in that position until last weekend but now we look a bit bare," he admitted. "It's a balancing act at the moment but the priority is there before bringing in someone else."

After picking up just five points from the last seven games, the Blades are only two points above the Championship relegation zone and need to get back to winning ways this afternoon.

Midfielder Leon Britton is especially concerned about the club's home form after securing only two wins in seven attempts.

"For whatever reason, we are struggling at home this season," said Britton, who joined the club on a free transfer from Swansea City in the summer. "There's more pressure at home but that's the same for every club in the country. Fans will always get on your back if things are not going well. Right now we need the fans behind us. They can be a major help to the team."

Britton also says now is the wrong time for the Blades to be looking at the league table.

"If we start looking over our shoulders we will lose focus when we need to be getting results," he said. "We need to concentrate on the next game and doing the right things. If we were scoring goals, people wouldn't be talking about it. But when when you are not winning, it magnifies things and people talk more."

The Blades have scored only nine goals so far this season – the lowest tally in the Championship.

Opponents Ipswich ended a run of three consecutive league defeats last weekend when beating Millwall and also kept a clean sheet for the first time since mid-September.