Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has revealed that he expects Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick to cause his team problems when they face Sheffield United on Saturday.
Karanka’s team welcome the table-topping Blades to the City Ground, and the Spaniard has admitted that two players have been giving him sleepless nights.
“Yes, they will [be tough to deal with], because both of them are players who do not perhaps make many headlines or who have not been involved in the biggest transfers in the market – but they are very good players,” he told the Nottingham Post.
“Billy Sharp played here and I know him. I think he scored against Middlesbrough when he was at Doncaster and Leeds. He is a very good player and you can say the same about McGoldrick, who I know from his time at Ipswich. They are players who might not have been involved in the biggest of transfers – but who have always scored goals in the Championship.”
OPINION
Karanka is right to be worried about Sharp and McGoldrick. The veteran pair have been fantastic for Chris Wilder’s side and will give Forest an extremely stern examination on Saturday. McGoldrick has already hit five goals and registered an assist since joining from Ipswich Town this summer, while Sharp has been absolutely lethal with 11 goals scored so far this season. The former Leeds man’s record equates to a strike every 87 minutes this term – better than a goal a game. That is quite stunning form from a 32-year-old who has represented eight different teams in his career. There is no doubt that Sharp will occupy much of the Forest defence’s attention at the City Ground, and this game will certainly be a real test for everyone in red. Karanka is obviously aware of the danger the Blades pose and will have briefed his players accordingly. However, stopping United is easier said than done.