SCOTT Parker believes Sheffield United will provide "arguably one of our toughest" tests so far when they visit Vitality Stadium tomorrow.

The Blades had a slow start to the season under new boss Slavisa Jokanovic, and currently sit 13th in the Championship table, following a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in midweek.

Parker knows all about Jokanovic, having both played under him as captain and then worked alongside him as first team coach during the pair's time at Fulham.

After being sacked by the Cottagers, Jokanovic took up a role at Al-Gharafa in Qatar, before returning to England to lead the Blades over the summer. Parker stepped into the role Jokanovic had previously held in February 2019, following Claudio Ranieri's unsuccessful stint in the hotseat.

Asked if this will be the first time he has met up with his former boss since the Serb was sacked by Fulham in November 2018, Parker said: "Yeah, it will be. I spoke to him when I first got the job at Fulham. I had a phone call with him, but this will be the first time we’ve met in person again.

"Obviously very different to last time. Last time we were working with each other and trying to get the best out of the team and he was probably trying to get the best out of me and we were trying to win football matches when I was a player.

"Now we’re obviously going up against each other for the first time professionally really. So I’m looking forward to that really. I realise the challenge, I realise the battle that we’re going to face.

"I realise what his teams will bring really. So it’s going to be a tough day."

He added: "I have nothing but utmost respect for Slav. Obviously playing under him, he came in at that moment in a bit of a difficult situation where we were really and brought a clear way.

"Then I was privileged enough that he brought me back as a coach to help him and work around him. I learned an extreme lot of things about him really.

"I have nothing but full respect for Slav, what he’s done and what he stands for as a man as well really. Very honest guy, clear way about him, that’s very clear to see.

"So I picked up a lot of things and I’m very pleased to see him back in English football really and doing well."

Quizzed on what he expects from a Jokanovic team when the Blades come to town, Parker said: "He has a clear way. Probably similar (to me) in certain aspects.

"Wants to dominate the game with the ball, technical game. So I think at any given moment he’s got a team here which have just been relegated last year from the Premier League and a group of players that have been in and around the Premier League for some time, so there is quality there.

"I know his qualities as well, so I think we’re going to need to be right at our game tomorrow.

"It’s going to be a tough game tomorrow, arguably one of our toughest. We’re going to have to be right on it to get something out of the game."