Blackwell faces goalkeeper trouble as Bunn leaves

Mark Bunn's recall to Blackburn Rovers after Tuesday night's clean sheet against Blackpool in the Championship means Blades boss Kevin Blackwell may be forced to dip into the transfer market to bring in a stop-gap goalkeeper.

With Paddy Kenny out banned, Blackwell only has veteran Ian Bennett and rookie Estonian Mihkel Aksalu to call on between the sticks.

Rovers were forced into activating a clause to bring back Bunn to Ewood Park after No 1 choice Paul Robinson was ruled out for a month through injury.

Sam Allardyce had wanted to recall Bunn on Monday, but Blackwell persuaded the Ewood Park boss to allow the goalkeeper to stay until the Blackpool game.

Of course, Blackwell is no stranger to the short-term deals this season, he could be dubbed the 'loan ranger' after Paul Connolly's bow on Tuesday evening meant he was the 21st player to make their Blades debut this season.

Right-back Connolly has joined from Derby County and helped soften the blow of Chris Morgan's two-match suspension.

Of the 15 players who played for United at Wembley last season in the Championship play-off defeat to Burnley, only three were involved in Tuesday's win; midfield pair Stephen Quinn and Nick Montgomery, while Bennett was an unused substitute.

Except Kenny and Morgan, all the others have since departed Bramall Lane to balance the books and highlight what an amazing job Blackwell has done to keep the Blades in the play-off chase this season.

Injuries and suspensions have blighted the Blades all season, but first-team coach Gary Speed paid tribute to the players' resilience in the 3-0 win against Blackpool which lifted them to seventh in the table, three points adrift of Cardiff City who they play next Wednesday.

"It was an excellent win in difficult circumstances, against a team in good form, because yet again we had to introduce a lad to the team for the first time at 6pm," said the former Leeds United midfielder.

"We all rallied round and it was great to get the goal in the first minute because we could have been apprehensive after the QPR game.

"We were forced into more changes and didn't know how the crowd would react, but our effort was never in doubt and the lads showed their character once again.

"The win is a massive boost for us and credit should go to the lads for the way they went about achieving it. Only four of the 18 on duty were here at the beginning of the season and now we've lost Bunny.

"He signed off with a clean sheet and we thank him for what he has done – but his departure means another upheaval."

Bunn, 25, played a total of 35 games for the Blades, which included 11 clean sheets.

"The options are to try for a loan, play Ian Bennett, or Mihkel Aksalu, who has a great work ethic and is very promising and playing in the reserves at Macclesfield," said Speed. "I will watch him but it might be unfair to throw him straight in."