Kevin Blackwell is hoping to have Darius Henderson available for selection when the Blades visit Middlesbrough in the Championship curtain raiser next Friday - but it will be touch and go.

Henderson has been sidelined since the first leg of last season's Play-Off at Deepdale with deep seated bruising in his thigh, and Blackwell admits precautions have been taken over the summer after the injury proved far worst than first feared:

"Nobody could believe the severity of the bleed inside the leg following the game at Preston. He was very close to needing an operation and although we were delighted he didn't go under the knife, he is still not fully recovered over two months later."

"There is no doubt he is a brave lad but sometimes common sense tells you things can't be risked anymore.

"If he had kept playing on it things would have become extremely serious and long-term but, hand on heart, he performed admirably when not fully fit."