Coventry City v Sheffield United: New arrivals provide lift for Sheffield United

The experienced duo joined the Blades yesterday and are both in the squad to face Coventry.

McEveley, a Scottish international, can operate as a left-back or central defender and has signed a contract until the end of the season, while goalkeeper Turner has been signed until Christmas as back-up to first choice Mark Howard with George Long having been loaned to Oxford United.

Clough said: “Jay is an experienced performer who we worked with for a couple of years at Derby.

“As we saw last Saturday (in the defeat to Bristol City) when Bob (Harris) took a whack to the nose, we are short of cover in that area. Jay provides that and can also play down the middle. As for Iain, he is an experienced goalkeeper and will provide good cover for Mark (Howard) until we are in a better position to assess what is happening with George Long.

“We have had a good look at Iain, we feel it is beneficial for all parties to bring him into the club because it will certainly benefit George (Willis) to go out on loan and play some games at a later date.”

The new arrivals join a squad where most members enjoyed playing time during the first week of the season as Clough rotated his troops in the league against the Robins and then Mansfield Town on Wednesday in the Capital One Cup.

Stefan Scougall and Craig Alcock are hoping to be fit after sitting out the game with the Stags with what Clough described afterwards as “slight niggles”.

If, however, the duo are not fit then the United manager will have no qualms about turning to others in his squad.

He added: “The good thing about our cup tie was the fact it gave some of those who missed the previous match an opportunity.”