The Blades and new signing Simon Walton have been dealt a stunning injury blow.

A scan on the knee he damaged at Mansfield on Saturday revealed cruciate ligament damage and the loanee is basically out for the season.

Walton arrived from Plymouth two weeks ago determined to kickstart his career but that is now in tatters for the foreseeable future and Kevin Blackwell said:

"It is a tragedy for the lad because he was really going to give this chance his best shot but he won't play for us now because his loan will be up by the time he recovers.

"We are now talking to Plymouth about where Simon will do his rehab, and it means that we are a player down already so the search has to intensify."