Tonge has signed a four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium for an undisclosed fee, and although Blackwell would have preferred not to sell the midfielder, he did not want to stand in the way of the 25-year-old.

"I was hoping the phone call wouldn't come, because I wanted to keep the squad together," the Blades boss told the club's official website.

"It all happened so quickly from about 11pm and it was a situation where Tongey wanted the opportunity to play in the Premier League again, and the club had received an excellent financial offer.

"We knew something could happen, but hoped it wouldn't. Some of the staff had to be at Bramall Lane until gone midnight because of that. Stoke put a bid in late in the day and that was that.

"We grew up together in a way and I have seen him progress rapidly over my two spells with the Blades. When I came back, he proved to the supporters that he is a good player and he is a great lad."