United have extended the loans for defender Paul Connolly from Derby County and goalkeeper Steve Simonsen from Stoke City.

Both completed their one month loan deals since last Saturday but have extended them by one week, enabling both to be included in Sundays local derby with Sheffield Wednesday.

The pair have been automatic choices and brought welcome stability and experience to a unit that has been continually ravaged by injury this season.

But Kevin Blackwell does not expect any of his injured players to be fit to return, which rules out Jamie Ward, Ched Evans, Ryan France, Jordan Stewart and Henri Camara, whilst Paddy Kenny's ban is not lifted until next week.

On Connolly and Simonsen's confirmations the United manager said:

"It is a relief because for a game like this you want as many experienced professionals as you can get, especially when trying to keep clean sheets and we have had two in our last three games."