FORM rather than favouritism will determine whether Colin Todd will play wantaway striker Arnar Gunnlaugsson at Sheffield United tomorrow.

The Wanderers' top scorer is in the squad for the Bramall Lane clash but could be relegated to the sidelines with the manager preferring Dean Holdsworth as Bob Taylor's strike partner.

But he was at pains today to stress that, if that is the case, it won't be a consequence of the Icelander handing in a written transfer request this week.

"His contract or his transfer request will have no bearing on whether he is selected or not," the manager said.

Gunnlaugsson - a revelation at the start of the season and still one of the division's leading goalscorers with 14 to his name - has not hit the same heights recently.

Todd had expressed concern over whether he was being distracted by his contract negotiations before dropping him to substitute for three games. He returned against Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Holdsworth reverting to the bench, but failed to impress in the 3-0 win.

If Holdsworth does return to the starting line-up, he will again be pitched head to head with his twin brother David - the inspirational Blades captain who made a scoring return in last week's 2-2 draw at Swindon after a long lay-off with a knee injury.

Wanderers go into the game confident of extending their unbeaten run of 10 games - the last nine having seen them concede just three goals!

Confident but not complacent if the manager has anything to do with it.

"We want to build on the 10, make it 11 and continue going in the right direction," Todd said.

"The players are in buoyant mood and playing well enough but they can't allow complacency to creep in. They have to keep working and doing the right things - and not just the starting 11 but the full squad because there are good players just waiting to get in."

The Blades, who have won only two of their last six home games and have dropped to mid-table, have had problems up front recently following the departure of Dean Saunders to Benfica, Gareth Taylor's move to Manchester City and an injury that has kept Russian Petr Katchuro on the sidelines.

But Todd struck a note of caution when he said: "Once again we'll be playing against a team that will see it as a chance to put one over on one of the better sides. And that is what we are. I know we are as good as anybody on our day but If they are too good for us, we'll hold our hands up.

"Sometimes we might not be as smooth as we would like to be but, if that happens, it's up to us to dig deep."

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill has dismissed suggestions that he is set to head the queue for Gunnlaugsson's signature, if Wanderers grant his transfer request.

Meanwhile Todd, who is still pursuing a deal to bring Brondby top scorer Bo Hansen to the Reebok, has played down reports originating in Yorkshire that the Jon Newsome deal could be back on.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson, who refused to match Wanderers' valuation of the experienced centre-back at the end of his six-match loan at the Reebok, says: "There is still some compromise figure there somewhere."

But the Bolton boss said as far as he was concerned the deal was "dead".

GUDNI Bergsson's injury problems continue. The Wanderers' skipper, who had a minor operation on his groin recently, is still suffering discomfort and goes into hospital on Monday fopr further surgery.

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