FA Cup Preview: Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest

Clough and Nottingham Forest boss Davies clashed in a feisty east Midlands derby at Pride Park back in 2010 during the Sheffield United manager's tenure in charge of Derby County.

Scotsman Davies reported the former Forest striker to the League Managers Association after claiming Clough kneed him in the back in a touchline altercation during Derby's 1-0 win just over four years ago.

Clough was sacked by Derby following a 1-0 defeat at the City Ground in September and has since been charged with the task of turning around League One strugglers United's fortunes.

The 47-year-old's main remit is to ensure the Yorkshire club avoid relegation as they sit in the relegation zone, but shock FA Cup wins at Premier League sides Aston Villa and Fulham have gone a long way to raising morale at Bramall Lane.

He said: "I don’t especially get on with him (Davies), no. We will shake hands and that will be it.

"We have had a few run-ins down the years, which is probably inevitable because of the teams we were managing at the time.

"Derby versus Forest clashes are always going to be interesting. When I was at Derby, they included days when we had melees and we all got fined by the FA. There was a lot of passion on show.

"Up until the most recent game in September, we had a good record at Derby."

He said: "We are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and we are up against a team going for promotion to the Premier League."