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Sheffield United will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing goalless draw against bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough last time out with a win over Rotherham United at Bramall Lane this weekend.

The visitors are struggling, and Chris Wilder should view this fixture as an opportunity to rotate his squad and rest some of his key men for the greater challenges ahead.

Did Chris Wilder get it wrong in the Steel City derby? Check out the thoughts of Ingood Nick below…

On the chalkboard

With the Championship run-in fast approaching, and the Blades still in the thick of the title race, it will be vital for Wilder to use the full extent of his squad as effectively as possible. United have enough quality in their ranks to overcome Rotherham whilst still handing a rest to a few players.

One man who could do with a weekend out of the firing line is 33-year-old striker Billy Sharp. Whilst the No. 10 is the Blades’ talisman, top scorer and club captain, he should not be called upon to start week in, week out, at his age and at this stage of the campaign. 

Wilder will need Sharp to be at his best when it comes to crunch time, and he should take this opportunity to rest the forward. Fortunately, in Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan he has the perfect replacement for Sharp.

Time to shine

Since his January arrival at Bramall Lane, the 26-year-old has only made one league appearance for the Blades. However, in that outing against Reading, he impressed and registered an assist.

He should now be afforded the chance to build on that appearance, to gain some extra sharpness and confidence. Not only would this mean Sharp could be rested, but it would also help Hogan get back to his best form, making him a more valuable asset to Wilder for the rest of the season.