Mark Bunn is ineligible for the Blades Carling Cup-tie this week and his future should become clearer as Paddy Kenny's will also soon be decided.

The Blackburn Rovers stopper kept a clean sheet at Middlesbrough but under the terms of his loan agreement cannot be used in the Cup, so Ian Bennett will be between the posts.

"Sam Allardyce has been very good in allowing us to borrow Mark and playing him was part of the arrangement, at least unless he merited being dropped - but there is no point in him being cup-tied when he is here for such a short time," said Kevin Blackwell, adding:

"We are well covered anyway and Ian Bennett will come in - I know 'Benno' and he will fight like mad to push his case for getting in the first team if Mark is having a bad time. Ian is a first-rate goalkeeper who has personal pride and I have no compunction at all about putting him in at any time."

Meanwhile, Paddy Kenny's hearing has been arranged for 18th August.