The Blues were paired with the Championship club in this morning’s first-round draw. It will be the first meeting between the clubs since they clashed in the league in 1986.The Ewood Park side, managed by Gary Bowyer, contain plenty of highly rated talent. Their biggest asset is £8 million striker Jordan Rhodes, who has been linked with moves to the Premier League.
Prolific Rhodes has enjoyed League Cup success against United in the past, scoring the winner for Huddersfield at Brunton Park in the first round in 2010. The likes of former England keeper Paul Robinson, Norway star Morten Gamst Pedersen and long-serving midfielder David Dunn could also line up for Bowyer’s side.
United’s clash with the Lancashire outfit means they will have to do it the hard way if they want to embark on another cup run. The Blues were unseeded in today’s draw, unlike last season when they overcame Accrington Stanley and then Ipswich to seal a third-round tie with Tottenham. The tie is likely to be played on Tuesday, August 6, three days after the league campaign kicks off.