Grounds to be thrown into mix

David Cuffley

Jonathan Grounds is set to go straight back into the Norwich City side at Sheffield United tomorrow.

Grounds looks certain to start alongside Gary Doherty in the centre of defence, leaving Adam Drury, who deputised at centre-back in last week's FA Cup tie at Charlton, to contest one place with Ryan Bertrand.

“Adam did very well last week, including carrying on with a bad dead leg, so he'll be competing with Ryan for the left-back slot,” said Roeder.

Drury and fellow defender Elliott Omozusi were expected to recover from thigh injuries in time to travel, while David Bell should be available after missing the Charlton game with an ankle injury.

One absentee is Darel Russell, suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 3-2 home defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Roeder has key decisions to make in attack, where he must decide whether to include Arturo Lupoli and Wes Hoolahan, both of whom impressed as second-half substitutes in the 1-1 draw at The Valley, Lupoli scoring his fifth goal of the season to earn a third round replay.

The Blades are sixth in the Championship table and unbeaten in the past five matches, and will pose a formidable threat to City's hopes of a rare away success.

“Sheffield United have had a squad these last few years that still has a good sprinkling of Premier League players, I guess on Premier League salaries as well,” said Roeder.

“They're expected to make a challenge each season to get back into the Premier League. They're a big, powerful team. In James Beattie they probably have the outstanding striker of his type in the Championship, a big, powerful striker who is a proven goalscorer both with his head and his feet.”

City, for their part, will be looking for their first double of the season after Lee Croft's stoppage-time winner at Carrow Road in September.

“We've beaten them once, even though we left it very late, and we played very well against them,” said Roeder.