The Blades midfielder is back on the form that sparked talk of a big money move to the Premier League five years ago and manager Kevin Blackwell insists there is even more to come.

Tonge, 24, has helped the Blades record three victories on the spin and the Blades now sit eight points adrift of the top six in 13th position with eight games to play.

Blackwell, who first worked with Tonge as a teenager when coaching under Neil Warnock at Bramall Lane, said: "I want to know what Michael has been doing for these last three years.

"Sometimes things happen but he is now responding and showing people what he can do again. After our game at Ipswich, their chairman Mr Sheepshanks said he was the best he had seen in two or three years.

"If he keeps performing like that, he will go on to fulfill his potential. They say 28-30 is when you have your best years as a player so there is still time for him to develop," added Blackwell.

The Blades visit FA Cup semi-finalists Barnsley tomorrow knowing that their destiny is out of their own hands. Even eight wins out of eight may not be good enough to secure a place in the play-offs, but Blackwell insists that they have to be believe it is possible.

"It would be stupid to say we are definitely going to get into the play-offs because the situation is out of our hands," he said. "We have to hope we can capitalise if others slip up.

"Only 12 days ago the issue was getting enough wins to make sure we were not looking over our shoulders; now we can start looking ahead in the table.

"If we can get a couple of wins in the next week it could be very interesting. You have to have the belief that someone can come out of the pack and sneak in.

"We are on a decent run, but there are a few in there who could also cause a surprise. It would be an unbelievable achievement if we pulled it off but we have to deal with what is ahead of us."

If the Blades can win a fourth consecutive League game against Barnsley tomorrow, it will represent the club's best string of results since September 2005 when they won eight games in a row on the way to promotion.

But Blackwell is under no illusions about the size of the task at Oakwell where Barnsley boast the second-best home record in the Championship.

"There is not much getting out of Oakwell at the moment so we know it will be a tough game," said Blackwell. "I hope they have both eyes on the FA Cup but, ultimately, it is about what we do. In the last month, we have tried to sort ourselves out and it has been getting us the right results."

Striker James Beattie has yet to shake off the groin strain that led to his absence against Norwich City last weekend and striker Luton Shelton is another injury doubt after picking up an ankle knock.

Sheffield Wednesday's teenage goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell will stay on loan at Oldham Athletic for a further seven days.

Blackpool have signed former Owls striker Grant Holt, 27, on loan from Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season.

England let their 100 per cent record slip in qualification for the Women's Euro 2009 with a
0-0 draw against the Czech Republic at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

A win would have taken Hope Powell's team eight points clear but the Czechs, who have a game in hand, remain unbeaten in the group and are five points behind.

England were without Kelly Smith through suspension and failed to break down their opponents, who showed resilience to keep England at bay.

Powell's side face trips to Belarus, the Czech Republic and Spain in their final three group games.

ITV have retained the rights to show midweek Champions League matches.

The three-year deal goes to the 2011-12 season.