Sheffield United keen to avoid rent-a-squad as Blackwell eyes play-off place

The term had been put forward to describe events last season when Blackwell spent the majority of his time finding replacements for replacements.

Injuries ravaged Sheffield United's squad and led to a revolving door policy in the dressing room. Whoever had the job of printing names on shirts was also kept busy.

In total, Blackwell used 39 players, including nine loanees, and four goalkeepers. His inability to field a settled side was cited as a major reason for missing out on the play-offs.

He deserves better luck this time around. Mind you, the early signs are not good.

One of his new signings has already been ruled out for the season, the club's goalkeeper has jumped ship, and another player is at home after a health scare which put him on a life support machine.

Despite the problems, Blackwell is optimistic that his team can again figure in the top half of the Championship table.

"Anything is achievable, as Blackpool showed last season," he says.

"I think the squad I have now has the capability of being in the top 10. And if you can get in the top 10, you have a chance of the top six."

Blackwell is starting his third season in charge of the Blades after returning, in February 2008, to the club where he had previously worked as a coach. The Blades have finished 9th, 3rd, and 8th under his guidance but have had to make cutbacks to adjust to the loss of Premier League parachute payments.

One of the most vocal managers around when it comes to talking about the game's finances, Blackwell has worked hard to make fans understand the pressures that exist at Bramall Lane. Even now, however, there are still some who fail to sympathise.

"Some people write stupid letters saying 'you have sold our best players'. No manager wants to sell his best players but the finances have to match up. At the moment, we are having to make do and mend," he said.

"There were 34 professionals on the books when I came here, now we are now down to 17. We have to be prudent and make decisions for the long-term future of the club.

"I think the majority of the fans now realise that football is not immune (from the credit crunch) and every manager I speak to has no money – with the exception of Manchester City. I think more teams will go into administration.

"The country is in such a bad state and the taxman is slapping winding up orders on clubs who are not paying him," he added. "Half a million is not an unachievable amount for a club like Sheffield Wednesday but it also says they haven't paid it. Look at Portsmouth, still in administration. Football is bumping along at the bottom."

With greater finances at his disposal, Blackwell might not have gambled on Simon Walton, the midfielder who snapped cruciate knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly. Walton burst onto the scene as a teenager at Leeds United but his career had seriously lost its way.

With greater finances at his disposal, Blackwell might not have lost goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to Queens Park Rangers. His departure stunned the Blades who had stood by him during a nine-month ban for failing a drugs test

"Losing Paddy was a big blow," he recalls. "As a club, we had done the right thing so it was disappointing that it ended in that manner. We have learned lessons but out of the black cloud comes a silver lining. We have got Steve Simonsen who is a good goalkeeper.

"As for Simon, that was another a cruel, cruel blow and the lad is devasted," he added. "Fortunately, he is still young enough to come back."

Blackwell refuses to set a date for the return of midfielder Lee Williamson who contracted an infection in his spine following surgery at the start of the summer.

"When they said he had been rushed into hospital and was on a life machine in intensive care, I just couldn't believe it," Blackwell says. "We had to rush Lee back last season because of the critical nature of our injuries but I wont do that again.

"We haven't got the biggest squad, there is no doubt about that, but we have tried to go with quality rather than quantity this season. We have signed players who can cover two or three positions and hopefully we will avoid as many injuries.

"You can only get stability and understanding by working with the same set of players day-in, day-out," he says.

"That was impossible last season.

"There were 10 occasions when we had to do training sessions on a blackboard four hours before a game. That hardly leads to continuity and it showed!"

COVENTRY have confirmed the signing of Everton striker Lukas Jutkiewicz for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old, who scored 11 goals during a loan spell with Motherwell last season, has agreed a three-year deal at the Ricoh Arena and is manager Aidy Boothroyd's sixth summer signing.

INS AND OUTS

IN: Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland, loan), Leon Britton (Swansea City), Johannes Ertl (Crystal Palace), Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley), Steve Simonsen (Stoke City), Rob Kozluk (Barnsley), Simon Walton (Plymouth Argyle, loan).

OUT: Billy Sharp, pictured (1.15m, Doncaster Rovers), Paddy Kennny (750,000, QPR), Gary Naysmith (Huddersfield Town), Ian Bennett (Huddersfield Town), James Harper (Hull City), Jordan Stewart (Skoda Xanthi), Kyel Reid (Charlton Athletic), Henri Camara (Atromitos), Glen Little (Aldershot Town), Justin Haber (Ferencvaros), Jonathan Fortune, Derek Geary, Liban Abdi, Sam Wedgbury.

Last season: 8th, Championship.

YP verdict: Play-off qualification. The Blades will be looking to prove a point after failing to qualify for last season's play-offs and manager Kevin Blackwell

has invested in players with good Championship pedigrees. A lack of strength in depth is still a source of concern but Blackwell's first eleven, on paper, is as good as most in the division.

Midfielder Leon Britton arrives from Swansea City with an excellent reputation and former Barnsley striker Daniel Bogdanovic brings something different in attack.

Captain Chris Morgan, long-serving midfielder Nick Montgomery, and striker Richard Cresswell have all signed new deals this summer and will form the backbone of the side.

There have been calls for the Blades to be more entertaining, especially at their Bramall Lane home, but boss Blackwell's top priority will still be points rather than plaudits this season.