Watford v Sheffield United: Defence boosted as Blades bring in new faces

SHEFFIELD United beat off competition from Premier League strugglers Portsmouth to land Sunderland's Nyron Nosworthy.

The Brixton-born defender is set to make his debut for the Blades at Watford tonight after signing a loan deal until the end of the season.

Defender Toni Kallio will also spend the rest of the season at Bramall Lane after returning for a second spell on loan from Fulham.

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Kallio was not registered in time to play at Vicarage Road tonight but is likely to start at left-back in Saturday's game against Derby County.

Manager Kevin Blackwell moved for Kallio – who played two games for the club in December – after missing out on former Blades star Kyle Naughton who, instead, joined Middlesbrough on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blades had been unable to afford the wages of their former player who joined Spurs only last summer in a joint 8m deal with Kyle Walker.

Nosworthy, 29, is a replacement for Matthew Kilgallon who was sold by the Blades to Sunderland two weeks ago for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around 2m.

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Although he played for the Wearsiders only last week, Kilgallon's arrival appears to have signalled the end of Nosworthy's career at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce also has Paraguay's Paulo Da Silva, former Hull City defender Michael Turner, and Anton Ferdinand competing for places at centre-back.

Blackwell said: "Nyron is a terrific defender who will bring a lot of qualities to the team and to get him from under the noses of a Premier League club is good. He is experienced and, importantly, he brings pace to the back four that we had lost with Kilgallon's departure."

Nosworthy started his career at Gillingham and played a key role in the side that survived five seasons in the Championship after winning promotion in 2000.

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Following the Gills' relegation to League One, he quit the Priestfield Stadium as a free agent and joined Sunderland in the Premier League.

Finnish international Kallio, 31, had wanted to stay with the Blades last month but was recalled by Fulham manager Roy Hodgson due to injury problems at Craven Cottage.

With Andy Taylor currently ruled out by a groin injury and Scottish international Gary Naysmith suffering a setback in his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, winger Jordan Stewart has been playing as an emergency left-back.

Blackwell said: "Toni is experienced, naturally left-footed, and will help young Taylor develop. If everything goes well, there might be an opportunity to sign him permanently in the summer."

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With 22 players now at his disposal, Blackwell believes the Blades have a squad capable of securing play-off qualification but there is still the option to bring in emergency loan signings from February 8.

"It has been a phenomenal feat to think we are where we are, with all the changes we have had to make," he said. "But barring any injuries or suspensions, this could be the squad that sees us through now and I won't be unhappy if it does."

The Blades, who were beaten by third-placed West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, can climb to fifth spot tonight if they win at mid-table Watford who have not played a game for 10 days.

The Hornets were due to entertain Swansea City last weekend but the Vicarage Road pitch was not playable due to a fault with the undersoil heating system.

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Winger Stewart spent three seasons with Watford before joining the Blades last summer after a one-season stay at Derby County.

Stewart played in the Watford side that won promotion to the Premier League and was relegated 12 months later.

"I don't know if I will get booed but I guess I am just about to find out," he said.

"I look back on my time with pride because we won promotion when no one really expected us to get that far."

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Winger Mark Yeates is likely to make his first start for the Blades tonight with Stephen Quinn dropping to the bench.

Nosworthy will replace Jonathan Fortune who has stood in for the last three games following Kilgallon's departure.

Blackwell does not plan to involve Estonian international goalkeeper Mihkel Aksalu but says the 25-year-old, who joined the club last week, is one for the future.

Last time: Watford 0 Blades 2; January 17, 2009; Championship.

Last six games: Watford LDDLLL, Blades DWWLWL

Referee: KD Hill (Hertfordshire).