Doncaster v Sheff Utd preview
Last Updated: December 31, 2012 10:42am
Hume: Returns to contention
Team news ahead of the New Year's Day clash between Doncaster and Sheffield United at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Iain Hume will come back into the Doncaster squad for their top-of-the-table clash against their South Yorkshire rivals.
Hume, who recently extended his loan from Preston until the end of the season, was ineligible against his parent club on Saturday.
The Canada international striker may struggle to get straight back into the starting line-up after Rovers won 3-0 at Deepdale.
Manager Dean Saunders is hoping to have James Coppinger available after recalling the midfielder from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest on Friday.
The 31-year-old made only six appearances in just under four months for the npower Championship club and his inclusion against the Blades is subject to Football League approval.
Midfielder Martin Woods is still nursing a thigh injury and will remain on the sidelines for another week.
Sheffield United defender Tony McMahon returns to contention following suspension.
McMahon sat out Saturday's shock home defeat to bottom club Hartlepool due to a one-game ban after reaching five yellow cards, but could return to the starting line-up.
Darryl Westlake and Marcus Williams were recalled to the back four on Saturday in place of McMahon and Neill Collins, who will be out for two months after suffering a triple fracture to his cheekbone in the Boxing Day win over Scunthorpe.
Striker Shaun Miller will be sidelined for the season after sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage in the same match and manager Danny Wilson must decide whether to retain John Cofie up front alongside Nick Blackman or recall veteran Richard Cresswell to his starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Mark Howard (thigh) and defender Lescinel Jean-Francois (knee) are both closing in on a return to the first-team squad following long-term injuries.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradford City | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Brentford | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Carlisle United | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Colchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Crawley Town | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Crewe Alexandra | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Gillingham | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Leyton Orient | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Milton Keynes Dons | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Notts County | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Peterborough United | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Preston North End | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Rotherham United | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Sheffield United | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Shrewsbury Town | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Stevenage | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Swindon Town | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Tranmere Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Walsall | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 0 |
