Midfielder Howard could yet make an instant debut in tonight's local derby against Doncaster Rovers after moving to Bramall Lane, initially on loan, from neighbours Barnsley.

The deal becomes permanent in the New Year transfer window and Barnsley will receive up to £600,000 if Howard helps the Blades win promotion.

Blackwell has needed a goalscoring midfield player since returning to the club last season and the Blades manager is confident that the wait for Howard will have been worth it.

"I am thrilled to get him because we have been waiting a long time to find someone who can fill the void in our midfield," said Blackwell. "Brian definitely fits the mould. He is a top quality player and his goals kept Barnsley up last season and took them a long way in the FA Cup."

Barnsley released a statement confirming that Howard had been allowed to go after rejecting a new deal and asking to leave last week.

Tonight's game will be the first between Rovers and the Blades in the league for 25 years with Rovers desperate to end a run of four consecutive defeats and pull clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Although Rovers, under manager Sean O'Driscoll, pick up plenty of plaudits from the purists, there are others who say that style should not come before winning in the list of priorities.

Asked to comment on Rovers' approach to the game, Blades assistant-manager Sam Ellis said: "Good football is like beauty to the eye of the beholder – and we all have different ideas. Doncaster play a certain way but we like to think we play good football, in fact we are sure we play good football.

"If our way is any different to Doncaster's, it just goes to show you that there is more than one way to go about it. My idea of good football is winning," he added.

O'Driscoll is determined to stick to his principles as Rovers look to survive in the second level of the English game for the first time in 50 years.

He acknowledges, however, that things have not gone as well as they should over the course of the last four games.

"There are certain things that we need to get back to, things that we know we do well," he said.

"After the international break, we will reflect on the first 10 games and what we need to do to improve."

With only four goals scored in their first eight league games – the lowest tally in the Championship – Rovers may have to strengthen their attacking options.

O'Driscoll said: "Everyone has to be given a chance – but if it is the right thing to do, we have a duty to do it. We all want to be successful and survive in the Championship and the players understand that. But no striker is beating the door down to come here who we think is better than we have already got."

Jason Price, Darren Byfield, and Lewis Guy carried the main goalscoring burden in the weekend defeat by Southampton and, with former Sheffield United striker Gareth Taylor still ruled out by injury, the current alternatives are James Hayter, Paul Heffernan and Lewis Guy.

Local derbies will be a key ingredient in either the success or failure of both clubs this season. With Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday also involved, there will be eight games where local pride and points will be at stake.

Although tonight's game has guaranteed the first 15,000 sell-out of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium, O'Driscoll said: "There are too many sides with too many good players in this division to be fixated by any one game. We have to maintain a level of performance week-in, week-out, no matter who we are playing against.

"It is not so long ago that this club could only dream of playing Sheffield United other than in a Cup game," he added. "This is a league game and we don't just have one derby, we have quite a few this season. As a manager, you don't enjoy derbies, the players buy into the atmosphere, their senses and reactions will be heightened, but you always have to do the right things."

Last six games: Rovers LWLLLL, Blades DLDLLW.

Last time: Rovers 1 Blades 3; December 11, 1988, FA Cup.

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).