Clough is hopeful O’Grady may return for another Blades spell

The 28-year-old was an 80th-minute substitute in Brighton and Hove Albion’s 2-0 win at Fulham on Monday evening, having been recalled from his loan spell in League One at Bramall Lane.

Blades boss Nigel Clough had been hoping O’Grady would spend the season back in South Yorkshire after the former Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday forward was frozen out of Brighton by then manager Sami Hyypia.

But that now is in doubt after Hyypia’s sacking and caretaker boss Nathan Jones’s decision to recall O’Grady due to injuries to Darren Bent, Kazenga Lua-Lua and Sam Baldock.

The January transfer window opens tomorrow, though, and Clough is keen to thrash out another loan deal.

“Chris O’Grady has been recalled from his loan spell with the Blades,” a United statement said.

“The striker has returned to Brighton and Hove Albion after they activated a clause which entitled them to recall him after 28 days of his loan period.

“Brighton’s striker shortage is behind the recall although United will speak to the Seagulls in due course with regards O’Grady returning at a later date.”

Clough missed out on O’Grady in the summer, but finally got his man on loan. In his four games in United’s colours he scored once – in the 1-1 draw with Walsall – and had impressed.

The Blades have been fined £4,000 by the Football Association for failing to control staff in their 1-0 win over Southampton in the League Cup.

Blades’ first-team coach Chris Morgan was sent to the stands following heated exchanges between the two benches after Marc McNulty scored the winning goal.