Paul Heckingbottom has insisted facing Manchester City is not a free hit for Sheffield United and believes a positive result could kickstart their season.
Pep Guardiola's side travel to Sheffield without their head coach, who will miss the game after emergency back surgery. For the Blades, they're looking for their first point of the Premier League season after defeats to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.
Despite the obvious gulf in squads, the Sheffield United boss is refusing to treat the game as a bonus. He wants his side to be competitive and try to make Bramall Lane a difficult place to go. "I wouldn't use it (fee hit)," he told Yorkshire Live. "It's a tough game against the best team at the minute but one we are looking forward to. READ MORE: Juanma Lillo confirms Pep Guardiola plans for Man City matches "We see it as a big game and a big occasion to try and get a shock result.
It kickstarts the season, that's all it does. We know we need as many points as possible." Guardiola will be absent from the dugout and watching on from afar though he will be active in the match at Bramall Lane.
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