All the early Sheffield United team news ahead of Reading clash on Friday

Sheffield United are looking to get back to winning ways on Good Friday when they welcome relegation battling Reading to Bramall Lane.

It will be the third Championship match in succession that the Blades have been on home soil having picked up four points in the last week from matches against Queens Park Rangers and AFC Bournemouth.

A few weeks ago, United were suffering from a real injury crisis which saw the likes of Ben Osborn filling in as a right wing back and young defender Kyron Gordon getting his chance in the first-team.

However players are returning on a gradual basis and Paul Heckingbottom has even been able to add Rubin Kazan defender and Croatia international Filip Uremovic to his ranks.

Heckingbottom could be set to bolster his defensive options ahead of the visit of the Royals though as Chris Basham looks likely to return from a knee injury.

It was revealed by the Blades head coach that the experienced centre-back trained on Wednesday morning and he will be assessed to see if he has come out of that unscathed, although he’s unlikely to start due to how solid the United back three of Uremovic, Ben Davies and John Egan were against Bournemouth.

One player who won’t be returning is captain Billy Sharp, who has been missing since his withdrawal in the second half of a 2-0 win over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley last month.

The veteran striker will miss both Easter weekend fixtures, Heckingbottom has confirmed, but he could be back in action next weekend for Cardiff City’s visit to Bramall Lane.

Rhian Brewster, Jack O’Connell, David McGoldrick and Jayden Bogle will continue to be absentees with all set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

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