Blades to honour injured Walton's contract

The 22-year-old former Leeds United prospect was 15 minutes into his Blades debut at Mansfield Town on Saturday when he suffered the injury, ruling him out for a year just weeks after he had signed a 12-month loan deal with the club.

United are still in discussions with Walton's parent club

Plymouth Argyle over how the player's rehabilitation will be managed but the Blades have said they will honour the terms of the deal struck with the League One club and will pay the player's wages for the duration of the loan.

It is understood that Walton did not arrive on a contract that put him anywhere near the club's top-end earners and he also forfeited any appearance or goal bonuses, such was his desperation to make an impression on and off the pitch at Bramall Lane.

However nominal the wage, though, United's decision will hinder manager Blackwell's attempts to bring in reinforcements as he plots a promotion challenge in the forthcoming Championship season.

Walton appealed to Blackwell because of his versatility, with the Leeds-born defender able to fill in anywhere across the back four and also, if needed, in midfield.

United have been linked with Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy, but Blackwell last night admitted he was undecided whether any replacement would be a permanent deal or another loan signing.

"It doesn't help us going back into the market and getting someone else in. We're effectively paying money on a player who cannot play for you, cannot help you, so that's a blow," said Blackwell last night from the club's pre-season training camp in Malta.

"I don't know yet whether it will be another loan player or not.

"I didn't want to have too many loans but I was prepared to take one or two, and Simon covered me in more than one position and it meant I didn't have to go looking at specific right-backs.

"I knew that having got the main targets in I'd got cover and back-up, but that back-up's now wiped away so we will have to think again.

"We're talking with Plymouth, we're seeing how they want to deal with it, but he's contracted this coming season to Sheffield United and we will honour the contract.

"At the moment it's down to Plymouth which way they go with the rehabilitation. I would have thought that Plymouth, with it being their player, would want to monitor the situation closer to home.

"We knew this season we wouldn't be massive in numbers and he had the ability to play two or three positions.

"I'm afraid for us it's one step forward, two steps back – that's the way the game's going for us."

Blackwell would not be drawn on possible replacements, but it is thought he will look again at a versatile option to give him competition for his first-choice defenders.

Central defender Nosworthy fits that description in his ability to also play right-back, plus he enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Bramall Lane towards the end of last season, playing 19 games.

Prising him away from Sunderland may prove difficult. Meanwhile, despite Walton's injury and subsequent inactivity this season, Blackwell says the young defender – whose progress has been hampered by injuries – will remain on his radar.

"It's a massive blow for Simon, to lose a whole year of his career through an unfortunate tackle," said Blackwell, who earlier this week re-signed former defender Rob Kozluk.

"It's a savage blow for all involved. There's no consoling him at the moment. He's young enough to come back again and that's the good thing. We'll keep an eye on him.

"He had just 15 minutes (against Mansfield), that's the crying shame, and he actually did well in that 15 minutes so I'm not going to dismiss him."

Blackwell has also been fighting to keep coach Gary Speed at the club in what is proving a busy pre-season trip. While in Malta last year, Speed was subject to interest from Swansea City and the managerless Swans have made enquiries again this summer with the Blades believed to have rejected two approaches for the former Leeds United midfielder and Wales international.

Swansea are now understood to be keen on Nigel Adkins, who kept Scunthorpe in the Championship last season on a shoe-string budget, while Brendan Rogers has also emerged as a candidate.

United are in Malta to celebrate the third year of their partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority and tomorrow night will play a round-robin tournament, consisting of two

45-minute matches, against local sides Vittoriosa Stars FC and hosts Hibernians FC.