Walker's late departure to force Blades into loan deal

The Sheffield United manager thought he had finalised his squad for the Championship promotion run-in after signing Sunderland's Nyron Nosworthy and Fulham's Toni Kallio on loans until the end of the season on a hectic transfer deadline day.

Those deals were done to counter the sale of Matthew Kilgallon to Sunderland earlier in the window, and the injuries to defenders Marcel Seip and Andrew Taylor.

But Spurs swooped 50 minutes before the closing of Monday's 5pm window to exercise their right to recall Walker, who was signed by Tottenham last summer as part of the 8m double deal that took him and Kyle Naughton to White Hart Lane.

Walker, 19, right, who has been capped seven times by England Under-19s, was loaned straight back to United following his summer move to Spurs and had become an integral part of their push for the Premier League, making 26 appearances for Blackwell's side.

United had tried earlier in the day to take Naughton back to the club on a similar loan deal, only to lose out to Middlesbrough for the England Under-21 right-back's signature.

Spurs also allowed another right-back Alan Hutton to join Sunderland on loan on Monday, prompting manager Harry Redknapp to come in at 4.10pm and recall Walker.

Redknapp said: "It's a good chance to see Kyle in action for us. He's been in great form for Sheffield United and we needed to bring him back because we've left ourselves a bit bare in that position."

Blackwell and club officials attempted to dissuade Tottenham from recalling Walker – who joined the Blades aged seven and progressed through the ranks at Bramall Lane – but the Premier League club stood firm, leaving the Blades with no time in which to find a replacement.

It leaves Blackwell with a squad of 21 players heading into the final three months of the season as the former Leeds manager attempts to take Sheffield United into the Premier League having missed out on promotion last season by a whisker.

"It's never ideal having something happen as late as that, but that is the nature of deadline day and we wish Kyle all the best," he said.

"The only disappointment was we thought we had finalised our squad for the rest of the season. We're now going to have to delve back into the loan market. But we're pleased with the cover we've got."

New signing Nosworthy can play at right-back, as can Derek Geary, and both started for the Blades last night.