Sheff United v MK Dons preview
Last Updated: March 8, 2013 2:54pm
Jamie Murphy: Back from groin injury
Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Sheffield United and MK Dons at Bramall Lane.
Blades pair Jamie Murphy and Jonathan Forte are expected to return to contention for this weekend's home encounter.
Murphy has missed the last two games after sustaining a groin injury in the recent win at Bournemouth and Forte has been sidelined for the last four matches with a similar problem.
The hosts will also be boosted by the return of defender Danny Higginbotham, who missed last weekend's win at Oldham through illness, so manager Danny Wilson must decide whether to retain Matt Hill in his back four.
Teenage striker Diego De Girolamo, pushing for his full debut in recent weeks, is out after sustaining injury while on international duty with Italy Under-18s in midweek.
Wilson's side are bidding to return to the top of the table by extending their unbeaten run to seven games. They have dropped only two points in their last six.
Luke Chadwick will miss the trip to the title chasers.
The winger, who has only recently returned from a two-month absence with knee ligament damage, is set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a hip flexor injury.
Chadwick was forced off shortly before half-time in the Dons' 3-0 victory over Doncaster at stadium:mk on Tuesday night and the 32-year-old is expected to be out for "a number of weeks".
Alan Smith is available after serving a four-match suspension while fellow striker Patrick Bamford has recovered from the hamstring injury that has kept him with parent club Chelsea since re-signing on loan for the Dons on January 31.
Full-back Jon Otsemobor is also fit again after illness ruled him out in midweek.
Stephen Gleeson made his comeback from a broken foot as a late substitute against Doncaster and the midfielder is again expected to take up a place on the bench.
However, goalkeeper David Martin remains a doubt with the back problem that has kept him out of the last three games.
Matches
-
npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
