Bolton Wanderers take on Sheffield United this Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship at the University of Bolton Stadium. With that in mind, bwfc.co.uk have picked out five talking points ahead of the fixture.
Josh Magennis called up for Northern Ireland
Wanderers’ frontman Josh Magennis has started life at the University of Bolton in fine form.
Coming in from Charlton in the summer, the striker has got three goals to his name from four league games.
This form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Magennis being called up to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad to face Bosnia-Herzegovina and Israel.
Here’s hoping the target man can continue to add to his tally against the Blades this weekend.
Top of the league!
The Whites head into this weekend’s game in superb form.
After Wednesday night’s game against Birmingham City, Phil Parkinson’s men sit joint top of the Sky Bet Championship along with Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
With Wanderers starting in such a strong position, why not head down to the University of Bolton Stadium and support the boys? Ticket information available HERE
New faces
Manager Chris Wilder has been busy in the summer, adding numerous faces to his squad since the last time Wanderers faced the Blades.
To strengthen his back line, Manchester United loanee goalkeeper Dean Henderson and centre back John Egan have been brought in.
Henderson was a part of the England U20 squad who won the U20 World Cup in 2017.
Experience centre half Egan was a member of the PFA League One Team of the Year in 2015/16, with Bryan having experience at all England youth levels up to Under 20.
Northern Ireland international Oliver Norwood was brought in from Brighton and Hove Albion on an initial loan deal, with a permanent deal arranged to go through in January.
The tenacious midfielder has experience of promotion from this division to the Premier League, with Brighton as runners-up in 2017/18 and Fulham via the play-offs last season.
On an attacking front, Republic of Ireland David McGoldrick was brought in on a free transfer from Ipswich. Meanwhile, Liverpool forward Ben Woodburn signed on a season long loan deal.
A game to remember
In December 2016, Wanderers took on the Blades in the second round of the FA Cup.
Former Whites striker Gary Madine opened the scoring with a guided header across goal, before Sammy Ameobi struck a curled effort from distance just after the break to double the lead.
Paul Coutts grabbed a goal back for United, before Josh Vela struck home to seal a third round berth for Wanderers.
Jack O’Connell scored with four minutes of normal time to go, but it wasn’t enough.
To watch the full highlights of this epic game, see the video below:
Three on the spin?
The Trotters have the chance this weekend to make it three wins in a row if they were to take the three points against Sheffield United tomorrow.
This would be the first time since March 2017 that the Whites have done this, when victories against Northampton Town, Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town came in the run up to promotion to the Sky Bet Championship that season.