Warnock: Sheffield can attract new blood

Neil Warnock is convinced he will be able to persuade players to join Sheffield United next month – despite facing an uncertain future.

The Blades manager has money to spend in the transfer window to strengthen the squad as United look to avoid an immediate return to the Coca-Cola Championship.

The problem for Warnock is that he could be out of a job come the summer as his current contract has just six months to run.

Warnock appreciates the scenario is hardly conducive to attracting new signings as he said: “It is a difficulty.

“I don’t think (plc chairman) Kevin McCabe really understands that with players, but if that’s how it is then it doesn’t bother me.

“Players do wonder why you’ve only a few months left if things are going well and they want to sign.

“As a player you sign for the manager and not the club. I know I always played better when I signed for the manager.

“But I’m sure I’ll still be able to attract players to the club, and then it’s down to them.

“I’ll just try and sell the club, and I don’t think it takes much selling to be honest, so I’m happy with it and Kevin’s happy with it.”

It would appear Warnock is happy to work without the safety net of another deal, while the club are seemingly waiting to see which division they will be in next season.

Warnock and McCabe certainly had plenty of opportunity to discuss the matter last week as they toured Europe together on a scouting mission.

Yet Warnock revealed: “We simply talked about the club in general - objectives, the transfer window, Europe, the Far East. You name it we covered about everything, apart from my contract.

“It’s obviously not a big issue for Kevin, so there’s no way I’m going to worry about it.

“My contract is my ability, and I think I’m as good as anybody there is, so why worry about a contract?”

Regardless of the situation, Warnock has the players currently at his disposal all pulling in the same direction ahead of tomorrow’s Bramall Lane visit of Aston Villa.

Back-to-back wins over Watford and Charlton have lifted United out of the relegation zone and instilled belief they can survive.

“We now believe in ourselves, and the fans do,” added Warnock.

“We also know we can score goals, even if they are late on as we have been doing recently.

“But the lads know if they keep going to the end then they will always have a chance of getting a result, even if people think we’re not going to get one.”

Claude Davis, Alan Quinn, Michael Tonge and Chris Armstrong are all back in training after recent injury problems and pushing for a place in the 16 to face Villa.