Blackwell's best laid plans for defence suffer a knock

With pressure mounting at Bramall Lane, manager Kevin Blackwell admits that the current situation is now the 'most frustrating' of his career.

Centre-back Morgan is likely to be ruled out for two months after suffering a suspected broken rib in Tuesday night's defeat at Vicarage Road while full-back Walker's loan deal has been terminated by Tottenham Hotspur.

To make matters worse, the Blades are unable to move back into the transfer market for replacements until Tuesday when the Football League's window for emergency loan signings reopens.

Between then and now, the Blades host Derby County at Bramall Lane in a Championship fixture they need to win to maintain their grip on a play-off spot.

Blackwell said: "It's tough at the moment and this is the most frustrating period of my managerial career but we have to take it, roll our sleeves up, and work even harder."

Although Blackwell boosted his defensive options by signing Sunderland's Nyron Nosworthy and Fulham's Toni Kallio on Monday, the Blades are now back to square one in terms of numbers.

Captain Morgan has been a rock at the heart of the Blades defence this season while Walker has been showing the talent which secured a 3m summer transfer to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had granted Walker, 19, permission to return to the Blades on loan in order to develop his game but opted to exercise a recall clause on Monday when full-backs Kyle Naughton and Alan Hutton joined Middlesbrough and Sunderland, respectively, in temporary deals.

"There was nothing we could do about that. I hadn't expected Kyle to go back until the summer but football, unfortunately, is full of surprises," said Blackwell, who also admitted that Morgan was the 'last person' he needed to lose amid the other problems.

With centre-back Marcel Seip (hamstring) still two weeks away from a return to action and Matthew Kilgallon sold to Sunderland, Blackwell has three options at centre-back this weekend; Nosworthy, Jonathan Fortune and Kallio.

Fortune has played the last four games but is in urgent need of a rest due to his long-term injury problems. That might open the door for Kallio, who was ineligible for the Watford game due to a delay in processing the transfer paperwork.

Derek Geary will be favourite to start at right-back, after stepping in for Walker at Watford, but again is a player with long-term injury issues.

Winger Jordan Stewart, meanwhile, is likely to deputise again at left-back in the absence of the injured Gary Naysmith and Andrew Taylor.

"On Monday, I was expecting to field a back four of Walker, Morgan, Nosworthy, and Kallio, and I was happy with that because we know all about their qualities" said Blackwell, reflecting on the changes prior to the 3-0 defeat at Watford.

"It all blew up in our faces in the space of about six hours."

Blackwell learned of Walker's return to Tottenham shortly before he arrived at the team hotel in St Albans on Monday night. He had been aware of the problems registering Kallio on Monday lunchtime and Morgan went off injured after 41 minutes of the game.

Despite the setbacks, Blackwell was still shocked by his side's level of performance at Vicarage Road.

"Without question, it was one of the worst displays since I came back to the club," he admitted.

"It was not a good day at the office and we got what we deserved which was nothing. I am not used to my teams caving in like we did."

Transfer regulations in the Football League mean that any player signed on emergency loan after the January transfer window closes is only permitted to stay for a maximum of 93 days.

For any such a player to be available for the Championship play-off final, which is being staged on May 23, they would have to be signed after Friday, February 19, which is still a fortnight away. That will be another matter for consideration by Blackwell over the next few days.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Lewis Buxton has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring strain.

Buxton, 26, suffered the injury during last weekend's 2-1 home win over Plymouth Argyle.

Manager Alan Irvine says Buxton's absence provides an opportunity for American international defender Frank Simek to reclaim a regular place in the side.