Blades banking on experience

The 32-year-old club captain was one of four key members of the squad who signed extended contracts this summer as Kevin Blackwell prepared to base a top-six assault on a dependable bedrock.

Along with Morgan – who signed a three-year deal – goalkeeper Steve Simonsen's loan move from Stoke City was made permanent, combative midfielder Nick Montgomery rejected overtures from Hull City, Leeds United and Bolton to pen a three-year contract and former Leeds United striker Richard Cresswell also committed to Bramall Lane for the foreseeable future.

Morgan, entering the eighth season of his United career, said: "None of us are at that stage where we're ready for winding down, we all want to keep going.

"It's important for the club to have that core and it's the reason why they moved in the summer to get an established goalkeeper in Simmo. I had a year left, Monty needed a new contract and Cressy's deal was coming to an end.

"The last thing the club wants is to have a strong core and get to the end of the season and keep having to find new players.

"The core of the squad is there. The manager knows we need two or three more and he wants a quality squad, not a squad of quantity."

Leeds, among others, were reported suitors of Morgan, but having invested seven years at Bramall Lane, there was only ever going to be one option for the Barnsley-born defender.

"You don't see many people past 36 still playing in top-end Championship teams, so in the last few years of my career I wanted to be at a club challenging and going for things," he said at the club's training camp in Malta.

"We've had a taste of play-off finals and promotion and I strongly believe we can challenge again."

United step up their pre-season preparations with a triangular tournament this evening against two of the leading teams in Malta, Hibernians FC and Vittoriosa Stars.

Morgan said: "It's still early and right now pre-season is all about fitness, getting all the lads to the same level, particularly the new signings.

"You can't just go bull at a gate with these things because you risk injuring them, so it's about bringing the new lads on gradually. Some have come in and they've not done the volume of training that we do. When the gaffer (Blackwell) came to the club, he immediately said that if you're fit and organised in this division then it gives you a really good chance.

"(Gary) Speed and the gaffer put some stats together and the amount of goals that we scored in the last 15 minutes of games last season was high and the goals we did concede was low and that comes from fitness and concentration."

More than 300 Blades fans have followed the club out to the Mediterranean island.

Though Blackwell is keen for the team to put on a good show for the club's major sponsors, he says tonight's tournament is more about the performance than the result.

"I look at this as two 45-minute sessions. We'll involve five of the young kids who are here, I don't want to put them under any pressure, but I want them to enjoy it," said Blackwell, whose team also face Rotherham United, Notts County, Burton Albion and Estudiantes before opening their Championship campaign against Cardiff City on August 8.

"This is just another stone in that building block towards getting fit.

"We're playing two different teams but that doesn't matter. I'm more concerned about performances and fitness levels.

"I could lose six pre-season friendlies, as long as I win the first six after that in the league.

"You can win all your pre-season games and typically you would then go and lose your first six competitive games. So results don't overly matter.

"You're looking at how much you're getting from the team and how much they're giving you."

And for the manager, the Malta exercise is a perfect opportunity for his players to bond.

He said: "You get to know people on a trip like this and the best way to rely on them later on in the season, is to get to know them."