Soccer: Blackwell - Deadline signings will bolster squad

Sheffield United assistant manager Kevin Blackwell said the club's three deadline day signings were needed to boost the squad.

The Blades have lost central defender Lee Sandford plus midfielders Michael Brown and Georges Santos in recent weeks - and manager Neil Warnock moved to replace them at the last minute.

Big centre-back Andy Morrison arrived on loan from Manchester City, while former Ipswich defender Manuel Thetis joins on non-contract forms.

And Warnock used his connections at former club Bury to snap up midfielder Darren Bullock on loan until the end of the season.

Blackwell insisted the signings were crucial to United's playoff hopes, with the squad down to its bare bones.

He said: "We had to get some players in because we've just lost three with serious injuries. This was our last chance to bring someone in.

"It's not a case of replacing the players, it's about adding to the squad. We are looking at a lot of players at the and at the end of the season we will be looking for two or three players of the right calibre."