Sheffield United

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck has been called into the England Under-21 squad for the first time in his career for their upcoming Euro 2027 qualifier against Kazakhstan.

The 20-year-old has been added to the squad along with Norwich City defender Ben Chrisene as Manchester City pair Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly have had to withdraw because of injuries.

Peck has started all four of Sheffield United's Championship games this season and has received his first Under-21 call up having featured at both Under-20 and Under-17 level for England.

England are the defending European champions after beating Germany 3-2 in this year's final and start their qualification campaign against Kazakhstan in Almaty on Monday, 8 September.

Will Sheffield United bolster their squad some more? Will Sheffield Wednesday give fans something to smile about with any new signings?

Find out in our visualised two-hour special show as we follow all of your club's deadline day business. Watch here at 18:00 BST.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles will use the international break to contemplate how to turn his side's form around following a point-less start to the Championship campaign.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough left them bottom of the table - after four games.

"I'm disappointed of course, with the result and the situation that we have been living," Selles told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It's not going for us, we are going to keep fighting, keep going and keep trying to fight for that moment that is going to change the dynamic.

"Sometimes when you're in those moments, it's difficult but we played against a very good team and we had situations in the first half in a 50:50 game and then in the second half until they scored a goal, I think we were dominant."

The Blades will return to action with a Friday night trip to Ipswich Town on Friday 12 September.

One of the most intriguing games of the weekend takes place at the Riverside on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST) as a fairytale start and a nightmare start converge.

New boss Rob Edwards' Middlesbrough have won all three games and sit joint-top of the early Championship table with Stoke whereas Ruben Selles, the new man in the Sheffield United dugout, has overseen three defeats to leave the Blades bottom of the table with only pointless Oxford United for company.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past eight home league games against Sheffield United (W6 D2), keeping six clean sheets across that stint since a 2-1 defeat in October 1997.

• After winning their last meeting with Middlesbrough 3-1 in February, Sheffield United will be looking to claim successive victories over Boro for the first time since September 2006 (three wins).

• Middlesbrough have won each of their opening three league games this season and will be looking to win their opening four for the first time since 1994-95, a season during which they were promoted to the Premier League.

• Sheffield United have lost each of their opening three league games this season, last losing four in succession to open a campaign outside the top-flight in 1995-96.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their last three league games against sides from Yorkshire, last enduring a longer run against sides from the county between February and April 2022 (four games).

Former Middlesbrough right-back Tommy Smith believes Danny Ings' move from West Ham to Sheffield United is exactly what they need.

Ings joins the Blades this week on a one-year contract after he was released by the Hammers.

"It's a decent move for Sheffield United. The one thing that they do need is a bit of experience in the group, I think Danny Ings will bring that," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"The key element for him is keeping himself fit which I believe he has done for the last couple of years, he's just not had the game time that he probably craves and hopefully he gets that at Sheffield United."

The Blades, sit bottom of the Championship and are without a point having scored just the one goal in their three league defeats and Smith says Ings will get chances to score at the club.

"I've played against Danny numerous times and one thing he is, is a goalscorer, there's no doubt about that. Give him the opportunities - which I do believe Sheffield United will give him," he added.

"For the poor start that Sheffield United have had, they've got good players. They are a team that will create chances so I think the signing is a good one."

Sheffield United have taken former England internationals Danny Ings, 33, and Nathan Redmond, 31, on trial, the pair having previously worked with Ruben Selles at Southampton. (Sheffield Star, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Sheffield United have agreed a fee with Millwall for defender Japhet Tanganga, with the 26-year-old having been left out of the Lions side which won at Bramall Lane on Saturday as the deal edged closer. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Naz Premji
Final Score reporter at Bramall Lane

Image source, Getty Images

So, a summer of change at Bramall Lane saw manager Chris Wilder replaced by Ruben Selles, a number of top players leave, AI driven recruitment and a poor start to the Championship campaign.

Add to that the exit at Birmingham in the Carabao Cup and an on-pitch post-match dressing down on the opening day, it has not been the best start to the US owners' reign.

Key questions are: what is the plan for success? Who agreed it? Is everyone on board?

From a fans' point of view I think they need one of the hierarchy to answer these and other questions so that everyone gets on the same page, whatever that may be.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles admitted a third league defeat in three has left them in a "tough situation" after losing 1-0 to Millwall.

The Blades have lost all four games this season, including in the Carabao Cup against Birmingham City, and find themselves bottom of the Championship.

"Right now we are in a tough situation," Selles told BBC Radio Sheffield. "We need to start to show a bit more especially in the beginnings of the game. We can't wait to go behind before we start our game.

"I am not about to open the book of excuses. It is me as the first one to do my job better it is always like that. After analysing my performance and what I want to do with the team comes the rest.

"We created enough situations but it is about how we do it. We have the quality and the positions but sometimes football is like that."

"It's a tough one to take. In the first half we were not the team we want to be. The second half was completely different and we played a game of football. We created situations to score and recognise the team we want to be.

"I didn't change a bit in the half time. It was our application that changed."