Kenny looks forward to return but season seems to be finished

The Blades goalkeeper probably thought things couldn't have got any worse after the agony of losing to Burnley in the Championship play-off final last season at Wembley.

But a call while on his summer holidays saw his world crumble after failing a random drugs test; a cough medicine he had taken having contained the banned substance ephedrine.

A nine-month ban left him shell-shocked and in tears and he was only allowed to return to train with his Bramall Lane team-mates last month ahead of his comeback. He will be free to play in the final two games of the regular season, at home to Swansea (April 24) and away at Ipswich Town (May 2).

"Obviously, I made a mistake, the biggest of my life and it nearly cost me my career," said 31-year-old Kenny, talking for the first time about his ordeal. "I should have known better, but I have to live with that and get my career back on track.

"I can honestly say that I didn't think I was doing anything wrong and was naive really.

"I had consulted the club doctor and was on antibiotics but there was so much going off at the time with the play-offs and everything, and on one evening when my chest felt off I just took the stuff and didn't think anything about it.

"We thought I had made a mistake and that I would get a small punishment – a nine-month ban never came into our thinking.

"Being given the ban, I was crying in the car coming home, thinking my career was over because you don't know what is around the corner but luckily, this club stood by me.

"I have probably let the game down, but everyone should take note of how serious making a mistake can be," said Kenny, who started his career at Bradford Park Avenue, then leaving Bury in 2002 to join the Blades where he has started 276 league games and was firmly established at their No 1 goalkeeper.

"They are right to call me stupid, but I have sat back and looked at things in a fresh light and realised more than ever how lucky I am."

Seven-times capped Irish international Kenny maintained his fitness by training on his own at the training ground, after the first-team had gone home for the day, and with a personal trainer at the gym.

He admits his time out of the game was tough with "some long hard days" but is eager to return this season, and there will be nobody happier to hear the abuse he usually attracts from opposition fans.

The chances of Halifax-born Kenny's season extending beyond two games, however, looks doubtful after Saturday's draw with Barnsley left the Blades six points behind sixth-placed Leicester City with just five games remaining

The first one of those comes tonight with a daunting trip to leaders Newcastle United, who need just a point to confirm their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The Blades will be without Jamie Ward (hamstring) and Jordan Stewart (knee) who were injured in a lively first half against the Tykes.

Ward will now miss the remainder of the season, but his cameo performance reminded United fans of what they have been missing.

The former Chesterfield striker's ability to link-up play with Darius Henderson, his darting runs, and closing down were sorely missed after he limped off to end his injury-troubled season on a low.

Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele twice denied Ward, tipped over Richard Cresswell's back-post header while the closest the Reds came was Hugo Colace's 25-yard free kick which was comfortably collected by on-loan goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

In the second half Stephen Quinn had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Phillip Walton, before Glenn Little's follow-up rolled wide of goal.

Steele once again denied Henderson, holding on to the striker's header at the foot of the post, as Barnsley relied on the counter-attack to test the home side.

Eight yellow cards littered the derby contest, the unfortunate Blades full-back Paul Connolly picking up his second with less than a minute left on the clock.

"I'm delighted with the point," said Barnsley manager Mark Robins. "You could see our legs were going a bit at the end but we battled really hard and dug-in when we had to.

"We've not been great away from home lately and so that showed real character and spirit.

"It's always good to get something on the road but especially when you come to one of the Championship's bigger clubs."

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