Kitson can be great for Blades, says Maguire

The former Premier League hitman has joined the Blades on a short-term deal after finding himself without a club this summer after leaving Portsmouth.

He netted for the Blades in their 1-1 draw with Notts County on Saturday and will be looking to net in successive games when Danny Wilson returns to one of his former clubs, Hartlepool, tonight in League One.

“Dave Kitson is a real handful and has a big frame and can cause massive problems for defenders, he’s good in the air and took his goal very well,” said Blades defender Harry Maguire.

“I’m sure he will be a great player for us.

“He can come back and defend corners and free-kicks and it’s another big thing now that we’ve got me, Colly (Neill Collins) and Dave who are big players who can defend very well. And at the other end we have an out ball because we know we can hit Kits whenever we like because he can make a bad ball into a good ball and will fight defenders and get fouls.”

The stalemate with County at Bramall Lane was the sixth time in nine League One outings this term that United have been held to a draw.

Kitson netted just after half-time before Lee Hughes equalised for County and Maguire believes they were punished for not picking up a second goal.

“We felt like we played well and were comfortable at 1-0 but needed the second to kill the game off,” he said. “We need a bit more of a cutting edge and I’m sure we will not be far away.

“We wanted to win the game and felt we had enough to win it. I know I had a couple of chances myself.

“It’s what you dream of that last volley (he hit wide from Collins’s nod down in stoppage time and also had a header ruled out for offside late on). I just tried to keep it low but it just went wide of the post. For the header at the back post I was just half a yard offside.”

The Blades have ruled out a loan move for former Doncaster Rovers midfielder Richie Wellens.

The 32-year-old played 46 games last season for Leicester City, but suffered a knee injury in the home defeat by West Ham in April and has not featured so far this term.

Last time: Hartlepool 0 Sheffield United 1, March 31, 2012, League One.

Referee: M Heywood (Cheshire).

Last six games: Hartlepool WLDLDL Sheffield United WDDDWD