Sheffield United have confirmed a strong starting lineup for their EFL Cup second-round tie away to Fleetwood Town this week. The Blades will line up in a 4-4-2 formation as they aim to progress in the competition.

Michael Cooper starts in goal behind a back four of Matt Doherty, Japhet Tanganga, Mark McGuinness and Rhys Norrington-Davies. Oliver Arblaster and Jairo Riedewald partner in central midfield, with Romelle Donovan and Joe Rothwell providing width on the flanks. The attack is led by Tyrese Campbell and Thomas Cannon.

Strong bench options

Manager Chris Wilder has significant firepower available on the bench, including forwards Patrick Bamford, Ben Brereton and Jordan Ayew. Midfield options include Hamza Choudhury and Jamie Shackleton, while Adam Davies provides cover in goal. The depth of the squad underlines the club's intention to take the cup competition seriously.

Fleetwood, who play in League One, have set up in a 3-1-4-2 shape. Jay Lynch starts in goal, with a back three of Shaun Rooney, Rhys Bennett and Finley Potter. Harrison Neal anchors the midfield behind Mark Helm and Crispin McLean, with Danny Andrew and Lewis McCann as wing-backs. The experienced Ched Evans partners Aaron Loupalo-Bi up front.

The match comes after Sheffield United's 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood in the Championship just days ago, a result decided by a Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal. That loss ended a run of three wins in four games for the Blades, whose recent form reads three wins and two defeats from their last five outings.

With a busy Championship campaign underway, squad rotation is expected, but the selected side shows a clear intent to advance. The tie offers a quick chance for revenge after the recent league setback at Highbury Stadium. Fleetwood manager Lee Johnson has stated his team will be aiming to play with a high tempo and press Sheffield United aggressively from the start. He highlighted the importance of the cup run for the club's finances and morale.

Sheffield United's Chris Wilder, meanwhile, emphasised the need for a response from his players after the weekend defeat. He noted that the team had averaged 2.1 goal minutes per game in their last five matches, a rate they will be looking to improve upon in this cup fixture. Fans can check the latest player information on the official squad list.

Kick-off is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the winners advancing to the third round of the EFL Cup.

First reported at WhoScored.com