Blades striker Jon Stead is hoping to use Wednesday night's Carling Cup clash at Huddersfield Town to stake a claim for a place in Kevin Blackwell's Championship starting line-up.

Stead, who has only made one substitute appearance this season, knows the trip to the Galpharm Stadium represents a chance for him to prove his worth and it is an opportunity he is refusing to throw away:

"With the team doing so well in the league, these early rounds in the cup are a chance for people like me to get a game. I am looking to show the Gaffer what I can do and stake a claim for a regular place.

"It is massively important for me personally, but we are trying to have a good season on all fronts. Winning breeds confidence and this competition has always been kind to me with regards to scoring goals.

The former Terriers hitman says the winning mentality around the Lane at the minute is down to Kevin Blackwell and that the players buy into it:

"Winning isn't a bad habit to have and we are gaining momentum - the Gaffer puts a winning feeling into people and it becomes quite contagious.

"We go into every game expecting to win and as long as that doesn't turn into compliancy then it is only a positive."