The Blades have already participated in five friendlies, they kick started the 2012-13 preparations with a 1-1 draw at Ilkeston FC before embarking on a mini tour of Malta where they played two games - firstly beating Zejtun Corinthians (6-0) before recording a 0-0 draw with Hibernians before returning home to face Rotherham United at the New York Stadium on non-league Hallam.
Our only professional meeting with Morecambe occurred under the leadership of Bryan Robson in late September 2007 in round three of the Football League Cup; they had already seen off Chesterfield (3-1) and MK Dons (2-1 (aet)) before convincingly beating Morecambe 5-0; Billy Sharp (18 & 33 minutes) and Luton Shelton (52 & 72) both netted braces whilst midfielder Lee Hendrie (67) netted to land United into the next round. They were eliminated in the following round at home to Arsenal (0-3).
Blades boss Danny Wilson revealed that eleven players where released this summer in a big shape up after failing to win promotion to the Championship; James Beattie and ex-Manchester City forward Ched Evans, Steve Simonsen, Andy Taylor, Johannes Ertl, Ched Evans, James Beattie, Connor Brown, Jack Adams, Seamus Conneely, Corey Gregory, Marc Warren and Shane Murray all left but Kevin McDonald, Chris Porter and Lee Williamson have all been offered new deals to stay.
United will be without defender Lescinel Jean-Francois who is sidelined for the summer through injury. However new signings; John Cofie (seasons long loan from Manchester United), Darryl Westlake (Walsall) and Shaun Miller (Crewe Alexandra) could feature at New York.
Morecambe finished last season 15th in League Two and have made preparations for next season by playing a number of friendlies; they kick-started the campaign against Everton (1-4) in a testimonial for Jim Bentley. They then drew 0-0 at Altrincham before beating Lancastrian rivals Preston North End (2-0) and a 1-0 win at Barrow. They lost 2-0 at home to Bury last Saturday.
The Shimpers allowed Naill Cowperthwaite, Lee Jones, Sean Breen, Joe Culshaw, Shaun Roultedge and Lee Jones to leave the club in the summer after the expiration of there contracts, whilst Laurence Wilson (Rotherham United) and Kieran Charnock (Fleetwood Town) have also left. The only player they have recruited to date is the loan signing of Richard Brodie (Crawley Town).