The Blades have missed out on former loanee Lee Martin who has gone to Nottingham Forest on the same basis.

But Kevin Blackwell, despite admitting an interest, is even more determined to make sure that he brings in the right acquisition:

"Lee made it clear that he wanted to come back here and I would have been interested, but it wasn't to be. However, I do want to bring in a real quality attacking, left-sided player rather than just get by, and I am prepared to wait until I can get him, even until January if necessary."

Blackwell considers strength in depth essential but rates continuity of selection even higher:

We could end up with too large a squad, player rotation just for the sake of it and no settled team established which would be counterproductive.

"I do want to get a winning team that requires little or no change, apart from occasions when situations, venues or personnel demand."