United have made a significant step forward in their team rebuilding with the capture of signing Nyron Nosworthy on a season-long loan.

The Sunderland defender is back at Bramall Lane for the entirety of the 2010/11 campaign - without a recall clause for the Premiership outfit.

Nosworthy was popular during his 19-game loan spell with the Blades last season, offering solid performances in a variety of position across the back line, and has been a target of boss Kevin Blackwell throughout the summer:

"We made no secret of the fact that we were looking for defenders, and that Nyron was a high priority of ours.

"Whilst we were - and still are - monitoring other alternatives, he fits the bill in every way, not least because we know what he can do and he fitted in well.

"He is a strong individual with bags of experience and he desperately wants to do well for this club because he knows the potential we have.

"I want a squad that has character and leadership and Nyron, along with Morgan, Cresswell and Montgomery who have all re-signed, brings that to the table."

Chief Executive Trevor Birch added: "The manager has made it plain that getting Nyron was essential to his plans and I am delighted that we have succeeded in bringing him in because there were other clubs interested.

"I think it has been significant that his team-mates at Bramall Lane were also hoping he would return because they recognised his value as an individual and to the team.

"His signing will help Kevin assemble the solid, dependable squad he is looking for and it demonstrates that we intend to be a serious player in the promotion race.

"We are pulling out all the stops to make this a campaign to remember and hope that fans respond by turning up in numbers every week to support us.

"An average of around 25,000 at home games last season was a big factor in Nyron signing for us and a repeat would be tremendous."