Kieffer Moore is closing in on a Sheffield United return as Chris Wilder's men look to keep pace with Leeds United at the top of the Championship.

The Wales international has not played for the Blades since their New Year's Day defeat away to Sunderland due to injury. But the striker is on the mend after undergoing minor hernia surgery last month.

Boss Chris Wilder said: “We are getting back to a fully fit squad. Kieffer is not far away. Tom [Davies] will be involved on Wednesday night and Kieffer will be on Saturday and Femi [Seriki] is only a week or two away. Shacks [Jamie Shackleton] is back in full training, so we have only got Ollie Arblaster missing long-term.

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“We have got 21/22 players to fit into 20. There’s going to be disappointed players not even getting on the bench. I’d rather have it that way and I’ve been consistent all the way through."

Wilder's side, who welcome Leeds to Bramall Lane later this month, are pushing hard for an immediate Premier League return. They are second in the Championship, two points behind the table-topping Whites.

The Blades currently have six loan players on their books after signing Rob Holding on deadline-day from Crystal Palace. EFL rules stipulate only five can be included in a matchday squad. It meant Alfie Gilchrist was forced to sit-out Saturday's unconvincing home win over Portsmouth.

“Alfie’s attitude has been absolutely superb," said Wilder, whose side face Middlesbrough tomorrow night. "He needed to come out of the team. It was a tough gig for him for maybe two or three games. He’s a young player coming into Championship football and he’s played the majority of games and we knew we are slightly disadvantaged in terms of the loan ruling and six available slots, so we had to make a decision."