Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United: Loan return of Naughton appeals to boss Blackwell

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Kevin Blackwell is keen to bring defender Kyle Naughton back to the club on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Naughton, who joined Spurs last summer in an 8m deal with Kyle Walker, has yet to start a game for the Premier League club and would jump at the opportunity to return, albeit on a temporary basis.

Blackwell, speaking ahead of tonight's FA Cup third round replay at Queens Park Rangers, said: "We are always interested in good players and Kyle is a great player. We have spoken to Tottenham a couple of times and still keep in touch with Kyle but it will be Tottenham's decision because he is their player."

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Sheffield-born Naughton, 21, burst onto the scene last season and made 40 appearances before joining Tottenham in the wake of the Blades' failure to win promotion to the Premier League.

Team-mate Walker, 19, was also part of the deal but was allowed to return to Bramall Lane on loan until the end of this season.

Blackwell is also back in the hunt for Birmingham City's out-of-favour winger Gary McSheffrey who was linked with a move to the Blades during the last transfer window.

McSheffrey, 27, has been told that he can leave St Andrews and was an unused substitute for the club in last weekend's game against Manchester United.

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The extent to which Blackwell is able to strengthen his side still rests heavily on whether players are sold to generate funds.

Defender Matthew Kilgallon has been linked with Everton and is still wanted by Newcastle United but came out publicly last week and pledged to stay with the Blades until the end of the season.

It may only be a coincidence but Kilgallon has been omitted from the squad for tonight's game due to a 'hamstring injury.' If a deal was imminent, however, it would make sense not to risk the player in the FA Cup.

Blackwell has also poured cold water on talk of striker Jamie Ward leaving to join Leeds United as a replacement for the transfer-seeking Jermaine Beckford and insists the player is happy at Bramall Lane – even though his hopes of an improved deal have been dashed for now.

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"I have had an amicable chat with Jamie and his agent and I think we all understand that I will talk to Jamie in the future when the time is right, rather than his agent talk to the press," said Blackwell.

"He has only been here a year and has played just over 30 games so he is still developing. There isn't any 'unrest' and he is contracted to us until 2012 so he is going nowhere."

Tonight's game at Loftus Road passed a pitch inspection yesterday and looks ready to beat the big freeze.

It will be the third meeting between the two clubs in just over three weeks and the prize on offer to the winners is an away trip to Premier League Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round.

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The two sides drew 1-1 in the original tie at Bramall Lane nine days ago and also drew 1-1 in the league game at Loftus Road last month.

Rangers have lost only once in four games since Paul Hart's appointment as manager but have not won an FA Cup tie in 13 attempts since knocking out Luton Town in a third-round replay nine years ago.

The Blades have lost only one of their last 10 games in all competitions and have reached at least the fifth round of the

FA Cup in five of the last seven seasons.

"We will have to show them respect," said Blackwell. "But we are certainly going to give it a good go.

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"You always want an opportunity to pit your wits against a Premier League team and, yes, it would be nice play Bolton in the next round, especially as I owe one to Owen Coyle (who led Burnley to victory over the Blades in last season's play-off final)"

Apart from Kilgallon, the Blades are also without strikers Henri Camara and Darius Henderson as well as defenders Gary Naysmith, Jonathan Fortune and Walker.

Blackwell says he may struggle to fill the substitutes' bench tonight and is not planning to employ any of the club's youngsters.