Blades’ recruitment not over as Higdon arrives

The 30-year-old, who arrives with an impressive goalscoring record both in Scotland and abroad, has signed a two-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months.

Higdon is Clough’s ninth capture as he looks to build a squad capable of sustaining a push for promotion. And, the Blades chief insists, the hunt for a tenth is already well under way as United look to bring in a replacement for Harry Maguire following the defender’s move to Hull City.

Clough said: “You look at a striker’s record but he (Higdon) will also be able to hold on to the ball and be an aerial threat. He is a traditional British centre forward and I think the crowd will take to him.

“He has been on the list (all summer). Chris O’Grady, a similar sort of player, was on that list along with a few others. We have had to be patient. In an ideal world, we would have had him at the start of pre-season but that is a small price to pay.

“We have four good strikers now and I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of another coming in. But we have other priorities, as we need a defender with Harry leaving.

“The search is going okay. We have many names. If we can get one in before Saturday, all well and good. But it has to be the right one.”

Higdon started his career at Crewe Alexandra but it is north of the border where his career really took off.

In the three seasons from 2010-11, he scored 15, 16 and 27 goals (the latter at Motherwell, where he played alongside Jamie Murphy) before moving to Holland in the summer of 2013.

Higdon scored 14 goals in 32 appearances in the Dutch Eredivisie, after winning the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year during the previous campaign when at Motherwell.

Clough added: “If you look at the quality of crosses we’ve put in over the pre-season period, it should be of major benefit to Michael.

“(Ryan) Flynn, Murphy, (Bob) Harris, (Craig) Alcock and (Ben) Davies have all been whipping in balls – he has got to relish that prospect.”