On loan transfer deadline day United have confirmed their capture of Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and are in the hunt for a centre-back.
Fresh from a loan spell at Charlton the 23 year old comes straight into contention and solves Kevin Blackwell's biggest dilemma in the nick of time.
The six feet three inches tall shotstopper has limited appearances for Wolves but league loan experience at Accrington, Stockport and Charlton and the United manager is relieved at capturing him:
"With Ian Bennett out for an indeterminate amount of time we had no other goalkeeper at the Club apart from Mark Bunn. With seven games between now and the New Year I couldn't afford to go into that period without another one in.
"Goalkeeping coach Andy Leaning and I have watched him a couple of times recently and of the keepers available he came out top as far as we are concerned.
"He is involved straight away and I have told him and 'Bunny' that they have to fight out the number one spot and prove to me that they deserve it."
However, Blackwell's problem is only solved until the loan expires at the end of December when both Bunn and Ikeme return to their clubs and the situation will have to be solved again by the time the FA Cup third round is contested on 2nd January.
There is a 5pm deadline today for loans and United are chasing a centre-back because of uncertainty about Matt Kilgallon's future and the impending loss of Andrew Davies:
"Davies' loan ends on 19th December and I just don't know what will happen about 'Killa' at the moment. But I can't allow us to be left short so I am hopeful of bringing someone in anyway.
"There has been an inquiry about Matt that has been turned down because we did not think it represented for value for money for us.
"He can, of course, go for nothing in the summer but we are not giving players away for nothing. In Matt's case, either way it is in his best interests to play as well as he can.
"I believe that all the speculation has affected him because he hasn't been the same player that he was last season."
