CHRIS McCann misses his first game of the season as Burnley take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this afternoon.

The influential midfielder did not make the journey across the Pennines with the team due to illness.

That means a recall for Joey Gudjonsson and Wade Elliott, as Clarke Carlisle's one-match suspension means Michael Duff will cover in central defence alongside Steven Caldwell, with Graham Alexander reverting to right back.

BURNLEY: Brian Jensen; Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan; Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald, Chris Eagles; Martin Paterson, Robbie Blake.

Subs: Diego Penny, Ade Akinbiyi, Alan Mahon, Alex MacDonald, Steven Thompson

SHEFFIELD UTD: Paddy Kenny, Greg Halford, Gary Naysmith, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Brian Howard, Matthew Spring, Stephen Quinn, Kyle Naughton, James Beattie, Billy Sharp.

Subs: David Cotterill, Darius Henderson, Anthony Stokes, Danny Webber, Ugo Ehiogu