Michael Doyle wants Sheffield United to up tempo

Capital One Cup semi-final first leg

Sheffield United captain Michael Doyle accepts his side must lift their game to an even higher level if they are to pull off another upset in their two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

But the Irish midfielder insists if the tie is still alive after tonight’s first leg at White Hart Lane, Nigel Clough’s cup specialists will have “a brilliant chance” in the return leg at Bramall Lane.

The League One side have beaten West Ham and Southampton to reach the last four and if that was not enough to serve Tottenham with a big enough warning, the Blades’ exploits in the FA Cup these past two seasons add extra credence to their latest challenge.

“There’s a lot to play for and I’m sure Tottenham will be fired up,” Doyle said. “They’ll look at our previous results and performances in other cup games and I’m sure they’ll take note of that. They won’t underestimate us, especially as we’ve come so far and they’ll be looking to finish it in the first leg. We’ve got to be on guard. I hope we can keep the tie alive. If we can, coming back to Bramall Lane will give us a brilliant chance.”

Doyle led the Blades out at Wembley in last season’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Hull — Aston Villa and Fulham were beaten along the way — while this year West Ham and Southampton, in the Capital One Cup, and QPR, in the FA Cup, have all been despatched.

When asked to account for the Blades’ cup form, Doyle added: “I haven’t got a clue to be honest, but since the Aston Villa game we’ve embraced everything about the cups and these ties. We’ve gone out with no fear in them and produced some of our best performances.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham full-back Kyle Naughton is set to miss tonight’s game as a move to Swansea edges closer.

The 26-year-old is understood to be closing in on a move to Swansea, with a fee, reported to be £5 million (€6.5m), having been agreed with the south Wales club.

Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino was coy about Naughton’s future yesterday — “I can’t tell you any news or any comment,” he said — but suggested his exit would be the exception rather than the rule.

Paulinho, Aaron Lennon and Roberto Soldado are amongst those to be heavily linked with a move away, with the latter said to be interesting Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Soldado has struggled for goals and form since arriving for £26m (€34m) in the summer of 2013, although Pochettino insists he has no intention of selling the misfiring striker, nor anyone else.

Instead he was keen to keep the focus on tonight’s task.

He said: “We know that Sheffield is a very good team. It is important to be focused and we need to show respect.

“We understand that this is an important game.”