Midfielder Tonge made a shock £2m move to Stoke City on the brink of the transfer deadline and his departure has left the Blades with a hole to fill in the centre of the park.

Manager Blackwell has already opened talks with two clubs about possible loan deals, but is refusing to reveal the identities of his targets.

"We have a couple of irons in the fire," said Blackwell. "I hope circumstances involving our targets won't change and, if it is looking favourable, we could have the lads in before we travel to Pride Park."

Blackwell and his scouts have kept a close eye on the foreign markets this season and have also drawn up a list of players in Premier League reserve sides who could fit the bill.

Even if Blackwell's loan bids are blocked, the Blades might still have the solution to the problem among their existing players.

The most likely candidate to fill Tonge's role is the young Irish midfielder Stephen Quinn who, until now, has happily settled for a role on the flank.

Former England international Lee Hendrie is another option along with striker Danny Webber who auditioned for the role in pre-season.

Blackwell admits that he was disappointed to lose Tonge – a player who had been with the Blades for eight years and made over 300 first-team appearances – but insists that it is a good deal for the club.

"I was hoping the phone call wouldn't come, because I wanted to keep the squad together," he said. "It all happened so quickly from about 11pm and it was a situation where Tongey wanted the opportunity to play in the Premiership again, and the club had received an excellent financial offer. Life is full of challenges.

"It is a great chance for him and, more importantly, we have made sure it is a good move for this football club."

Striker Jon Stead moved to Ipswich Town on loan and defender Ben Starosta has joined Polish club Lechia Gdansk on a six-month loan deal.

Hull City chairman Paul Duffen believes the club's £1.5m investment in Rangers striker Daniel Cousin is money well spent.

The Tigers secured the services of the Gabon international, but missed out on Manchester United's Fraizer Campbell who joined Tottenham Hotspur instead. Defenders Kamil Zayatte and Paul McShane also moved to the KC Stadium on loan prior to the deadline.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws has warned midfielder Kenny Lunt that he has no future at Hillsborough.

Lunt, who has not played for the Owls for 12 months, rejected an opportunity to leave the club on loan which could have freed up wages for the Owls to bring in another player.

Laws said: "Players make me laugh when they say they just want to play games and when they do get an opportunity to play games, they don't want to go. It really does infuriate me at times.

"We have changed the way we play, but Kenny plays Kenny Lunt's way and can't change his style. Unless he can show me that he can change, physically, he won't be involved."

Doncaster Rovers completed a late deal to sign Thai international goalkeeper Jamie Waite, 22, on a non-contract basis.

Waite, who has fought back from cancer of the lymph glands, was released by Bradford City this summer and had been training at Nottingham Forest under the guidance of former Rovers goalkeeper Barry Richardson.