Blackwell catches young Gunner to offer more defensive options

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Kevin Blackwell bolstered his squad yesterday with the addition of young Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley on a three- month loan deal.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Feb 2010, 09:30 BST
Updated 10th Feb 2010, 09:31 BST

Bartley, 18, will provide extra cover at centre-back in the wake of injuries to Chris Morgan and Marcel Seip and the departures of both Matthew Kilgallon and Kyle Walker.

Blackwell, who included Bartley in his squad for last night's game at Preston North End, said: "I am delighted to have got him.

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"He's got the right calibre – even though making his league debut with a new club at such a young age will be a big challenge for him."

Manchester-born Bartley started his career on the books at Bolton Wanderers before being snapped up by the Gunners three years ago.

Described as an 'imposing centre-back', Bartley signed professional terms last summer and made his full senior debut for Arsenal two months ago in a UEFA Champions League defeat at Olympiakos.

He is the captain of the club's reserve team and also led the Gunners to victory in last season's FA Youth Cup, scoring goals in both the quarter-final and semi-final.

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He was also on the substitutes' bench for three Carling Cup games this season along with the FA Cup fourth round defeat at Stoke City.

Under Football League rules, the Blades had to wait seven days after the closing of the January transfer window to make any 'emergency loan' signings and the maximum length of these deals is 93 days.

That means Bartley is going to stay at Bramall Lane until May 12, the scheduled date for this season's Championship play-off semi-final second legs.

However, he will not be eligible to play if the Blades qualify for this season's play-off final at Wembley on May 23.

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The Blades had signed Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy and Fulham defender Toni Kallio during last month's transfer window but Walker's shock recall by Tottenham Hotspur and a rib injury suffered by Morgan against Watford meant the club's options at the back had not been increased.

Morgan is likely to be out for another month but Dutch defender Seip, who pulled a hamstring shortly after arriving on loan from Plymouth Argle, could be back sooner.

Related topics:Kyle BartleySheffield UnitedArsenal