The Blades will be hoping to extend Reading's goal-less start to the season in the Championship when Kevin Blackwell's side ride into the Madejski Stadium at the weekend.

Brendan Rodgers, who took over from Steve Coppell during the summer, has seen Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt leave the club for the Premiership and despite the arrivals of Matthew Mills, from Doncaster, and Ryan Bertrand, from Chelsea, the Royals have only mustered goal-less draws against Nottingham Forest and Swansea City, as well as a heavy defeat at Newcastle.

Adam Federici, who has replaced Marcus Hahnemann in goal, was the hero at the Liberty Stadium in midweek, saving a Mark Gower penalty to secure a hard-fought point.

In the Carling Cup, Reading thrashed League Two outfit Burton Albion, managed by former Blades favourite Paul Peschisolido, 5-1 to progress to the second round.

Despite the barren times in front of goal in the league their only defeat has come against the resurgent Newcastle outfit.