Clarke competing for starting role

Leon Clarke

LEON Clarke could play a big role as Sheffield United strive to maintain their promotion momentum across the Christmas period.

Clarke (31) has mainly been restricted to substitute showings under Chris Wilder's control this season, but his boss has hinted that he might chuck the former Athletic loan striker in from the start as the games pile up.

It sums up the disparity in terms of resources between the two clubs who meet on Boxing Day that Wilder can also call on skipper Billy Sharp, ex-Rochdale flyer Matty Done and Caolan Lavery - a player who has worked with Stephen Robinson in the Northern Ireland under-21s - if they start to fall short in terms of goals scored.

As it stands, the 40-goal tally across 22 matches is only bettered by Scunthorpe's 46.

Clarke may have to make do with a place on the bench if the Sharp-Done partnership is maintained, despite his twice hitting the woodwork after coming on at Coventry in last Thursday's 2-1 win at the Ricoh Arena.

"I thought Caolan and Leon both did really well last time out, they made a real impression after coming on," Wilder told the Sheffield Star.

"Caolan gets better with every match he plays and we all know what Leon is capable of, he's a clever player who can finish too.

"It's good to have those options available to us."

It appears a straight choice between Done and Clarke for the right to partner Sharp, who is the club's top scorer with 14 goals in 25 appearances.

Sharp, who scored twice at Coventry, is aiming to capitalise on promising form by claiming maximum points against Athletic and then at home to Northampton on New Years' Eve, before the trip to struggling Bury on Monday, January 2.

United face Oldham Athletic at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day before playing host to Northampton. "We've got three massive games coming up now," Sharp told the Star.

"I don't want to get over-excited or ahead of myself but, if we can do well in them, then we should have an exciting second half of the season.

"We're joint top and, if you'd have asked us if we'd have accepted that after four games, then we'd have snapped your hand off. The gaffer has set us up to be tough to beat and to win games of football."