Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is hopeful Kalvin Phillips will be fit for Tuesday's Championship trip to Preston North End after the midfielder took a knock in Friday's 1-0 win over Wrexham. The victory at Bramall Lane, sealed by Ben Brereton's 30th-minute goal, extended United's unbeaten run to three games and left them three points outside the play-off places.

Phillips did not train with the squad on Sunday but has been working in the gym, with swelling from the impact having subsided. "We’ve got to have tough boys, mentally and physically," Wilder said. "Kalvin came through the game, and the swelling has calmed down."

Late calls on Bamford and Rothwell

Forward Patrick Bamford is also a concern for the Deepdale fixture as he manages a shoulder problem, with his availability to be decided late. Bamford is the club's top scorer this season with five goals in 11 Championship appearances. Midfielder Joe Rothwell is another potential absentee after picking up a groin issue, which could open the door for Jairo Riedewald to feature.

Wilder will be looking to build on the positive momentum from the Wrexham result, which followed a 1-1 draw with Derby County. In that match, Bamford scored a 79th-minute equaliser, assisted by the impressive Romelle Donovan. The team's recent form over the last five matches shows one win, one draw and three defeats, a sequence they are aiming to improve upon.

Preston's struggles present opportunity

The visit to Deepdale represents a significant opportunity for Sheffield United. Preston North End, managed by Graham Alexander, have collected just five points from their opening 13 matches and sit at the foot of the Championship table. They could be without former Blade Harry Clarke and midfielder Liam Gibbs.

Sheffield United's clean sheet against Wrexham was a welcome boost, with Jordan Ayew also delivering an excellent performance. The Ghanaian international's contribution, along with Donovan's, has given Wilder positive selection headaches. The full squad will be needed as United face a busy period, with their next fixture after Preston being a home match against Coventry City on November 7.

Securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season would be a major step towards closing the gap on the top six. The match at Deepdale kicks off at 19:45 on Tuesday evening.

First reported at LiveScore