The first-round fixtures in this year's EFL Cup will continue on Thursday, as West Bromwich Albion welcome Sheffield United to the Hawthorns.

The two Championship promotion-chasers will fight for a place in the second round after most recently squaring off in England's second tier last season, each recording a win on home turf.

Match preview

West Bromwich Albion head into their second season back in the Championship hoping for a better display, after finishing 10th last year and being dumped out of the EFL Cup early on as they were thrashed 6-0 by Arsenal in the second round.

Their first meeting with Thursday's opponents in that campaign was a particular highlight, as the Baggies, then under the management of Valerien Ismael, cruised to a 4-0 victory at the Hawthorns with Dara O'Shea, Alex Mowatt and Callum Robinson all finding the net after a Jack Robinson own goal.

Steve Bruce was then appointed in February to replace Ismael in the West Midlands, and, after an eventual 10th-placed finish, they began the new term with a trip to Middlesbrough and left with a point as John Swift cancelled out Isaiah Jones's early opener.

They then faced the tough test of a home game against Watford in the second round of league fixtures on Monday, and, after Ismaila Sarr put their visitors ahead with an effort from inside his own half, Karlan Grant would draw the Baggies level, and they were again able to share the spoils as David Button denied Sarr from the spot with 20 minutes to go.

While they are winless from the opening two encounters, Bruce's men have taken on two of the Championship's stronger sides, and, heading into another tough challenge, they will hope to put a first competitive win on the board on Thursday to begin building momentum with the hopes of a cup run and a sustained promotion push this time around.

Sheffield United make the trip having secured their first league win of the season at the weekend, with the Blades also hoping to win promotion back to the Premier League this term.

Similarly to their opponents, the South Yorkshire outfit experienced a managerial change last year, as Paul Heckingbottom replaced Slavisa Jokanovic in November and took them from the bottom half into the playoffs thanks to a fine run, including a 2-0 home win in the reverse fixture against West Brom as Billy Sharp hit a brace.

After coming from two goals behind in their two-legged semi-final with Nottingham Forest, the Blades eventually lost in a penalty shootout, and, turning their attentions to the new term with the hopes of going one better, they would fall to a narrow defeat away at Watford on the opening day as Joao Pedro hit the only goal of the game.

Heckingbottom's men were able to bounce back upon their return to Bramall Lane, though, marking their second game of the season with a 2-0 home win as Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge got on the scoresheet, with Oliver Norwood's saved penalty being the only blemish on an impressive day at the office.

With a trip to take on former manager Chris Wilder and his Middlesbrough side looming on Sunday, the Blades will look to get into a winning run and triumph in their first cup game of the season.

Team News

West Bromwich Albion will likely remain without forward Daryl Dike due to an injury, although new midfielder Okay Yokuslu was fit to feature off the bench last time out after missing the Middlesbrough game and should be given a chance to start on Thursday.

Bruce may take the chance to rotate his squad further, with several players who are yet to start a league game this season likely to come in, meaning we could see the likes of Kyle Bartley, Callum Robinson, Adam Reach, Alex Mowatt and Taylor Gardner-Hickman, with Alex Palmer also in line to be given a chance in net.

Grady Diangana is also likely to start on the left flank, with new arrivals John Swift and Jed Wallace potentially sitting out with Sunday's league game away at Blackburn Rovers in mind.

Sheffield United are also expected to make rotations for the cup, while they have plenty of enforced absences with Jack O'Connell, Jack Robinson, Chris Basham, Enda Stevens, Tommy Doyle and Oli McBurnie all ruled out, although the latter two are nearing returns.

Following their loan arrivals from Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, James McAtee and Reda Khadra should feature from the outset in the attacking areas, with Daniel Jebbison the most likely to lead the line if Rhian Brewster is preserved and club captain Billy Sharp is not deemed fit enough to start having only recently earned his first minutes after a lengthy layoff.

Given the amount of injuries in defence, Ben Osborn or Max Lowe may come into the left-wing-back role to allow Rhys Norrington-Davies to move into the back three, while Kyron Gordon may also be called upon if Ciaran Clark or John Egan are to be rested with Anel Ahmedhodzic again expected to play after impressing in his debut at Bramall Lane.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Gardner-Hickman, Bartley, Ajayi, Reach; Mowatt, Yokuslu; Diangana, Molumby, Phillips; Robinson

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Gordon, Norrington-Davies; Baldock, Osborn, Arblaster, Lowe; Khadra, McAtee; Jebbison

We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Sheffield United

The expected rotations to both squads make Thursday's tie a tough one to call, but given the extensive injury issues the visitors are dealing with, we see West Brom having more squad depth to call on and just prevailing on the night as a result.

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