Clough eyes possibility of White move becoming permanent

The Leeds United utility man recently joined the Blades on loan until January 1, with former Derby boss Clough having come close to signing the 22-year-old back in the summer of 2012, when he was out of contract at Elland Road.

White made his first start since September 21 in the Blades’ 2-0 loss at Shrewsbury last weekend, with his performance one of the main substantives for Clough.

The Bramall Lane chief, hoping to receive clearance from Leeds counterpart Brian McDermott for White to feature in Saturday’s FA Cup first-round clash at Colchester United, said: “The biggest point we can make to Leeds is the most relevant one – he’s come here to play football and play games.

“If we get through in the cup (and he can’t play), then in two out of the eight weeks, he won’t be able to play.

“We haven’t ruled out doing something with him beyond January as well.

“Leeds may be thinking if they get a lower division team in the cup, they might put half a side out. We’ve been in that position ourselves, so we totally understand Leeds’ position. We’ve just got to keep asking.”

Centre-half Neill Collins has returned to training, despite sporting a considerable black eye after coming off with a head injury at Shrewsbury and should be fit for this weekend.

Clough said: “Him and Harry (Maguire) take knocks like that all the time; it’s part and parcel of being a centre-half.”

Meanwhile, Clough has warned Fabian Brandy that further incursions of on-pitch indiscipline will hit him in the pocket after his second red card of the season at the weekend – which sees him banned for the next four games.

He said: “It’s unacceptable and we will be reinforcing that message in the next few weeks and months in terms of what is expected discipline-wise.

“He (Brandy) will be much much poorer if he doesn’t understand it.”

Swindon Town frontman Andy Williams looks likely to miss the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Williams, who joined Yeovil on a season-long loan deal in August, sustained the injury in training with the Glovers and recently returned to the County Ground to be assessed.

John Marquis has committed himself to Portsmouth for the remainder of his loan spell.

The Millwall striker’s Fratton Park future was thrown into doubt after he was left out of the squad for the 3-2 win over Exeter on Saturday.

But the 21-year-old insists he has no intention of returning to south London early and wants to fight for his place at Pompey.