Alex Tettey returns after a midweek rest to bolster Norwich City for this afternoon's Championship battle with Sheffield United at Carrow Road.

Tettey came on in the closing stages of Wednesday's gruelling 0-0 draw at Chelsea in the FA Cup but replaces Mario Vrancic in the starting XI, who drops to the bench.

The former Norway international hasn't lost a league game that he's started so far this season and the Canaries have kept six clean sheets in the eight games that he has been in the starting line-up.

City go into the game needing to dig deep after taking Premier League side Chelsea all the way to penalties on, being beaten 5-3 in a shootout following the match finishing 1-1 during extra-time.

Farke pointed out at his pre-match press conference that means his team is unbeaten in six games, in open play. Regardless of that his team are unbeaten in four in the league, taking 10 points from a possible 12 and conceding just one goal.

They begin the afternoon in 13th place but just six points adrift of the play-off places, but with new recruits yet to arrive – other than Spurs loanee Marcus Edwards, whio has a back issue – following the recent sales of Alex Pritchard and Cameron Jerome, as well as the loans of Yanic Wildschut, Steven Naismith and Russell Martin.

United make three changes, Lee Evans and Ryan Leonard coming into midfield in place of Mark Duffy and John Lundstram, with Manchester United loanee James Wilson up front for Clayton Donaldson.

Last season's runaway League One champions have made an impressive return to the Championship after six seasons in the third tier, going into today's game in sixth place.

Their form has stuttered in the last couple of months though, winning just two of their last 11 matches, following up a 1-0 win at Ipswich with a 0-0 home draw against Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Chris Wilder's team are likely to have revenge in mind though, due to the Canaries' 1-0 win at Bramall Lane in September, when Farke's team defended desperately to make the most of Wildschut's fine strike midway through the first half.

Norwich: Gunn; Hanley, Zimmermann, Klose; Pinto (C), Tettey, Reed, Lewis; Maddison, Oliveira, Murphy. Subs: McGovern (GK), Raggett, Husband, Stiepermann, Vrancic, Hoolahan, Cantwell

Sheff Utd: Moore; Basham, Stearman, O'Connell; Baldock, Leonard, Evans, Fleck, Stevens; Clarke (C), Wilson. Subs: Eastwood (GK), Holmes, Lafferty, Duffy, Lundstram, Sharp, Donaldson

City team news

Tottenham loan signing Marcus Edwards has a back problem and will have to wait for his Norwich debut. Tom Trybull (back) is also ruled out. Marley Watkins has been omitted, with Daniel Farke revealing yesterday he is not happy with the Welshman's level of performance. Russell Martin and Steven Naismith sealed loan moves this week and Cameron Jerome completed his move to Derby. Matt Jarvis (ankle) could be back in training in a fortnight. Louis Thompson (Achilles) is out longer term.

Sheffield United team news

New signings Ricky Holmes, Ryan Leonard and Lee Evans could all play some part. Midfielder David Brooks is recovering from glandular fever.

One to watch – Leon Clarke

Strange few weeks for the Sheffield United striker. Comes into this game on the back of one goal in the last six but prior to that had notched 10 in his previous six games, 15 goals in 24 matches in total this season for the much-travelled forward.

Sheffield United manager – Chris Wilder

Led the club he supports to the League One title last season Also won the League Two title at Northampton Town and gained promotion to the Football League at Oxford. Guaranteed a warm reception at Carrow Road after his passionate post-match reaction, following the corresponding fixture.

Referee – Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

Shown 78 yellow and three red cards during 22 matches so far this season, booking three players during City's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in November and 4-0 drubbing at Millwall in August.

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