Stoke City vs Sheffield United confirmed teams as Uremovic features but Blades suffer injury blow

Sheffield United kick off the first of eight huge matches in the race for promotion with a trip to Stoke City today. The fixture is also the start of three in a week with back-to-back home games to follow.

The Blades arrive in the thick of the play-off pack after a remarkable run of form saw them climb into the top six ahead of the international break. It's just three defeats in 19 matches and only Luton Town have picked up more points than United in the period since Paul Heckingbottom was appointed.

Having beaten Barnsley last time out, Heckingbottom highlighted earlier in the week the importance of continuing that good form with a positive result this afternoon.

The Blades boss has made four changes to the team that beat Barnsley. George Baldock and Ben Davies make a welcome return to the starting line-up, while John Fleck replaces Conor Hourihane in midfield.

However, there's another injury blow for the manager, with Oli McBurnie out with a thigh strain. Billy Sharp has not made it after picking up a hamstring injury last time out, so youngster Daniel Jebbison starts up front.

In a piece of good news, new signing Filip Uremovic has gained international clearance and takes his place on the bench.

Here is how Sheffield United line-up for today's match.

Starting XI: Foderingham; B Davies, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Norrington-Davies; Gibbs-White, Jebbison

Subs: A Davies, Hourihane, Stevens, Osborn, Uremovic, Ndiaye, Osula

Stoke starting XI: Bonham; Harwood-Bellis, Jagielka, Wilmot, Tymon, Allen, Thompson, Vrancic, Brown, Maja, Wright-Phillips

Subs: Bursik, Chester, Clucas, Sawyers, Forrester, Campbell, Fletcher

The game gets under way at 3pm and you can follow live updates and everything that