Sheffield United

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Defender Luke Thomas has had his loan deal with Sheffield United terminated by mutual consent.

The left-back, who joined the Blades on a season-long loan from Leicester in the summer, will now return to his parent club in the Championship.

The 22-year-old has featured 12 times in Premier League this season and once in the FA Cup, but has struggled for game time since Chris Wilder's return to the club following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom.

He has played 85 games for Leicester, but had not featured in the first four Championship games of the season.

With seven Premier League clubs having to play FA Cup replay's during the Premier League winter break, leading to some managers questioning whether cup replays should continue, BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast have been discussing the why they are still important.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The Blades have turned to Chris Wilder to dig them out of a deep hole following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom and the optimistic Wilder will believe it can be done. He is an ideal man for the job, not just because of his past history with the club but also his ability.

Much will rest on whether Ben Brereton Diaz can provide goals after joining on loan from Villarreal. Wilder will whip up the atmosphere at Bramall Lane to provide a source of inspiration - but it will be quite the feat if they stay up.

Current position: 20th.

McNulty's pre-season prediction: 19th.

What McNulty said in August: "Manager Paul Heckingbottom did superbly to take Sheffield United back into the top flight but it already looks like he will have a job keeping them there."

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Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba believes the Blades have shown "good foresight" with their attacking options.

William Osula, 20, scored two goals against Gillingham in their FA Cup victory at the weekend to put pressure on regular striker Cameron Archer, who is currently on loan from Aston Villa.

"The manager doesn't pick names from what they have done in the past, he picks on how they are performing in training," Asaba told BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast.

"He [Osula] would have earned that chance from Monday to Friday. The manager is all about what you are providing - not what you’ve done in the past.

"That is the most healthy thing for a club and he can't do any more. The club are completely aware of the prospect that he is. The foresight in the contract with Archer shows that.

"Cameron under the change of manager has been outstanding. But the club have identified that if they do go down then Will Osula will want to lead the line and he should be in that position, as if we go down they have a clause that he [Archer] will be going back to Aston Villa.

"That then removes a player from the pecking order. It is really good foresight from the club."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba believes the signing of Ben Brereton Diaz means the Blades now "have got a bit of everything".

"He is a goalscorer. Given his body shape and physical attributes, you think he will be down the centre, but he is happy on the left," Asaba said on BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast.

"He can play on either side. We now have got a bit of everything. You also have Rhian Brewster, who is looking leaner and sharper each week.

"It is a loan until the end of the season, so the club is acting responsibly. He could play for them now. He will want to be starting and expecting to be starting.

"It is a good signing to impact the starting XI."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

BBC World Service's John Bennett analyses the teams at the top and bottom of the Premier League who will be affected most by having players at the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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Joe Bradshaw, BBC Sport

Last week's capture of Ben Brereton Diaz on loan has prompted hopes the former Blackburn Rovers man can provide the goals to haul Sheffield United out of trouble.

But does his history suggest that is likely?

Before summer 2021, Brereton Diaz had struggled to catch fire in east Lancashire. Despite being an ever-willing worker, his finishing was erratic and he lacked the poacher's instinct to be in the right place at the right time.

However, his form turned around when he was picked by Chile - as a result of his mother's nationality - for the Copa America. He added Diaz to his surname and became a cult hero.

He scored twice in that competition and came back to England on a hot streak, netting 20 goals before the end of 2021 as Rovers challenged Fulham and Bournemouth for automatic promotion.

Unfortunately, he tired after Christmas - as did his team - and scored just two goals in 14 fixtures, as well as being hampered by injury.

It was a similar story last season – an impressive start fizzling out after the World Cup with just three goals in 22 Championship games before two on the final day.

He has at least got a goal at Bramall Lane - a confident FA Cup penalty last year - and that puts him higher than some of his new team-mates given the Blades' bluntness so far this season.

This is a player who is exceptional when he is hot - but when he is not, he's a toiling left winger who rarely threatens.

After half a season kicking his heels at Villarreal, Brereton Diaz returns home with a definite point to prove. Undoubtedly, he will put in the hard yards to try to make his time at Sheffield United a success.

However, will he come with the confidence he clearly needs to hit the ground running? And will he even get chances in the Premier League, given the huge step up in quality of defenders, and the fact he does not naturally operate down the middle?

Expect a determined, hard-working and eminently likeable character.

Do not expect an avalanche of goals.

Ben Meakin, BladesPod, external

Will Osula bagged his first senior Sheffield United goals this weekend, firing the Blades to a comfortable, banana-skin-sidestepping win in the FA Cup. It's no more than the academy product deserves, having been thrown into the deep end this season because of the club's injury crisis.

It was a huge ask for Osula – who only turned 20 the week before the season – to lead the line for a struggling team in the Premier League. Previously, he'd played a grand total of 119 minutes of Championship football. His progress had stalled in early 2023 as United – again because of injuries – recalled Osula from his loan at Derby County out of sheer desperation.

It would be grossly unfair to look at Osula's record this season – 12 appearances, zero goals before Saturday - and draw any conclusions about his ability as a striker. He certainly hasn't looked like a forward lacking confidence, as his quick-thinking overhead kick against Luton Town showed.

Doubtless a loan spell in the Championship this season would have been better for the Denmark Under-21 international's development, but he's done all that can be asked of him in the Premier League instead. He has an explosiveness that very few of our other forwards possess and I've appreciated his willingness to take risks with the ball by throwing in a bit of skill and taking his shot.

I'm not expecting miracles from Osula in the second half of the season, but getting that first goal is always a hump for any striker to get over, and he can approach the rest of the campaign with that obstacle cleared.

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Find out who your team has been drawn against in the FA Cup fourth round with the full list of ties below.

• Watford v Southampton

• Blackburn Rovers v Wrexham

• Bournemouth v Swansea City

• West Brom v Brentford/Wolves

• West Ham/Bristol City v Nottingham Forest/Blackpool

• Leicester City v Hull City/ Birmingham City

• Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry City

• Chelsea v Aston Villa

• Ipswich Town v Maidstone United

• Liverpool v Norwich City/Bristol Rovers

• Tottenham v Man City

• Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle

• Crystal Palace/Everton v Luton Town/Bolton

• Newport County/Eastleigh v Wigan/Man Utd

• Sheff Utd v Brighton

• Fulham v Newcastle United

The matches will take place over the weekend of 27-28 January.

Watch all the goals from the third round

Former Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell believes the Blades showed exactly why they are a Premier League club, as they progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-0 win over League Two Gillingham.

"I think as a Premier League club coming to a lower league club, people thought there was an opportunity to see a scare here today," said Blackwell on BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast.

"The Blades went about their job in a really professional manner. They put Gillingham to the sword. They told Gillingham players why they are Premier League players and why they are in League Two.

"It was a thoroughly professional performance and a thoroughly professional result.

"The one black mark on it would be that they didn't take the chances created, because we had two or three in the first half that should've been finished, and certainly two or three in the second half."

The Blades now have a 15-day break until they are back in Premier League action, with West Ham United at home next up for Chris Wilder's side.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights and analysis from Saturday's FA Cup third round fixtures.

If you missed Saturday's action, catch up here on BBC iPlayer.

You can also watch the best bits of Sunday's FA Cup matches here.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live Saturday match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle

Gillingham 0-4 Sheffield United

Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa

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Sheffield United will have a "good feeling" after their 4-0 FA Cup win over League Two Gillingham, according to Aston Villa captain and Women’s FA Cup semi-finalist Rachel Corsie.

The Blades secured their fourth round spot with two braces from William Osula and James McAtee, despite sitting bottom of the Premier League after 20 games.

"It's one of those weeks where you can probably just enjoy the fact that you're preparing for something else. To get the result that they got, it's a good win and that's a good feeling," Corsie told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It doesn't change the situation they are in, and how difficult that situation is, but it does certainly bring a bit of a lighter start to next week. It's going to be tough for them but certainly today will be a nice day."

Former Aston Villa midfielder and FA Cup runner-up Nigel Reo-Coker added: "I think it's a great distraction when you're in Sheffield United's form in the Premier League, with everything that's going on and the pressures of staying in the league, which will have been their objective from getting promoted.

"So, I always feel like the FA Cup and all of these competitions are just a great distraction from your domestic form. You know that you're not playing a game where you have to get points, it's just a one-off game.

"Maybe you can just breed a bit of confidence back into the players and play the game without any fear or worry, which is often the case in Premier League games."

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Marissa Thomas, BBC Sport

Sheffield United recorded their most comprehensive victory of the season as they thrashed League Two Gillingham.

It was the first time the two sides had met in the FA Cup and United dominated proceedings.

William Osula scored his first senior goals for the club and could have had a hat-trick before half-time as the Blades took control of the contest. At just 20, the young Dane looked confident up front and the Gills were unable to contain him.

At 2-0, Gillingham captain Max Ehmer's header crashed against the post and they were duly punished soon after when James McAtee scored twice in the space of four minutes.

United may be more concerned with retaining their Premier League status this season but a morale-boosting win is not to be sniffed at as they look forward to finding out their next opponents in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder speaking to BBC Sport: "We haven't had many wins this season so to get back to that feeling for the players was good. We need to be consistent with our performances, no matter which competition. It's different from the Premier League, we had more of the ball.

"Everyone in the media world has turned up today looking at this fixture and thought 'home win, Premier League team getting knocked out'. We had to make sure we did a job on Gillingham, and we did that.

"We have some good young players. Andre Brooks was outstanding too. It was the first experience of playing at this level [for some youngsters]. It's fabulous for them that they got through it.

"It's not Under-21s football, it's full-on. We had to endure some tricky moments. Will [Osula] to get his two goals was great."

On new loan signing Ben Brereton Diaz: "He wanted to come. That was one of the biggest things for me, I want players to want to come here.

"It's been a whirlwind week. He's been flying back and forth from Spain. To get him on the pitch was good."

Did you know?

• This was Sheffield United’s biggest away win in the FA Cup since November 1983, which was a 5-1 win at Wrexham in the first round.

Premier League side Sheffield United beat League Two Gillingham thanks to doubles from William Osula and James McAtee, as they progressed to the FA Cup fourth round.

Gillingham made a positive start to proceedings with Conor Masterson having a shot blocked after skipping past a defender in the box.

However, with 14 minutes played, the away side took control. William Osula burst into the box, driving at the Gillingham defence, before firing through the legs of goalkeeper Jake Turner for his first senior goal for the club.

Osula was on target again when he reacted quickest after Turner parried Cameron Archer's shot back into a dangerous area.

Gillingham captain Max Ehmer's header looked destined for goal late on, after beating Wes Foderingham, but it came crashing back off the post to frustrate the home support.

Minutes later, McAtee increased the lead for the Blades as he capitalised on a mix-up at the back to fire home from close range.

McAtee's swerving effort from the corner of the box rounded off the victory three minutes from time, as it turned into a comprehensive win for Chris Wilder's side.

Were you at the ground or following the match from elsewhere?

How did you rate the performance of your team, Blades fans?

Follow all the reaction here

There is less than an hour to go before Gillingham host Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup.

Follow all the action live here

And listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 ties in the FA Cup third round and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this weekend's matches he is up against singer-songwriter and Liverpool fan Banners.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

The biggest problem Gillingham have is finding the net - they are the lowest scorers in League Two with only 21 goals in 25 games. Their manager Stephen Clemence is the son of Ray, who won the FA Cup twice, but I think this is the end of his run this year.

People talk about the number of changes that teams will make for these ties, especially the Premier League sides, but Sheffield United have got players who need minutes to get back to full fitness, so they should put out a strong team here.

The Blades are bottom of the Premier League and have not won away all season, so any win on the road is an important one, and will help them gather a bit of momentum. They reached the semi-finals last season, so it would totally demoralise their fanbase if they went to Priestfield and lost there too.

Banners' prediction: 2-1

Click here for the full list of predictions

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The draw for the FA Cup fourth round will take place on Monday, 8 January before the third-round tie between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, which is being televised by ITV.

The 16 fourth-round games will be scheduled across the weekend of Saturday, 27 January.

We asked for your thoughts on Sheffield United's first signing of the January transfer window.

Here are some of your replies:

Jon: I would have been excited by this loan signing in summer but, given our pretty certain relegation and no option to buy, this seems a waste of money.

Ade: Brereton Diaz is a good signing. Hopefully there will be more because the centre-backs this season haven't been good enough at all, neither have the midfielders. Pretty much all of the summer transfers have disappointed and Souza, who is supposed to be the midfield enforcer, couldn't take dinner money from a schoolkid.

Blade forever: Brereton Diaz should have been one of the summer targets. It seems a bit too little, too late, but still he is an exciting addition.

Donny: A decent recruit. He proved himself in the Championship, so let's see how he gets on in the Premier League.

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Ben Brereton Diaz has said he "can't wait to get started" at Bramall Lane after joining Sheffield United on loan from Spanish side Villarreal.

Brereton Diaz, who excelled at Championship level for Blackburn before moving to La Liga in the summer, said: "As soon as I knew there was interest, I spoke to a few people and we got it done quickly.

"I wasn't really playing out there and was told I could go out on loan, so it is great to be over in England now at such a great club - a club I know well through playing against.

"I spoke to Chris [Wilder] on the phone and he was telling me about what the team stands for; hard work, desire and things like that. That's something I enjoy, and it was something I wanted to be part of.

"Coming here is great for myself. Playing in the Premier League is something you dream of as a young boy so that's great for me and I just can't wait to get started."

Image source, Reuters

Sheffield United have made their first new signing of the January transfer window, adding striker Ben Brereton Diaz to their squad on loan from Spanish club Villarreal until the end of the season.

The Chile international, 24, moved to Spain at the start of the season when his contract with Championship club Blackburn Rovers expired, but he is yet to score in La Liga for Villarreal.

He netted 38 goals for Rovers in his final two seasons at Ewood Park before his departure.

Subject to international clearance, he may be available to face Gillingham in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

What do you make of the signing, Blades fans? Can he be the catalyst to keep Wilder's side up? Let us know here