Blades to 'lose' Kilgallon
Matt Kilgallon looks certain to leave Sheffield United to the highest bidder as the Bramall Lane board face a series of executive decisions to rescue the club's season from the brink of potential collapse.
More emergency reinforcements are on the agenda today amid a mounting injury crisis.
Manager Kevin Blackwell is interested in bringing Michael Tonge back to the Blades from Stoke with the midfielder keen on a return. And Blackwell confirmed that an option to sign Birmingham striker Gary McSheffrey "is one we'll talk about".
The Blades boss said: "We're down to 13 players at the moment and if that's still the case we'll definitely go into the loan market."
Blackwell is hopeful his board will help after injuries ruling out a total of 10 players have exposed the limitations of what was already a tight squad. He said: "I'm sure if push comes to shove they'll sort something out."
But it could take a big incoming fee for Kilgallon to free up cash for the permanent signings United – who are overloaded with loans – may need to make in the January window.
There is no sign of a new contract being agreed with the highly-rated centre back, who has said he has not been offered one. Blackwell countered: "That's not strictly true. It's whether he'll accept what's been offered."
The sort of bumper deal Kilgallon requires to stay seems off-limits amid tight restrictions on the wage budget this season, making it almost inevitable that the former Leeds defender will leave in the January window.
Faced with the certainty of offers at that point, United will decide whether their position in the table warrants a gamble on keeping Kilgallon – whose valuation would then go lower – or selling him for an acceptable price, perhaps around 5m.
The player wants to go to the Premier League, with Burnley, Bolton and Wigan among those keen. Although Championship leaders Newcastle might tempt him, and United, if they came in with a big approach before January, the boardroom instability at St James' Park might rule that out.
Blackwell, meanwhile, can only attempt to ride out a storm that has left him operating on a wing and a prayer.
He said: "The one thing we had to do this season was avoid injuries. For one or two to be out would be okay, but I've never known it as bad as this.
"There might have to be some players playing through the pain at Scunthorpe on Saturday and one or two injured ones sitting on the bench just to make up the numbers."
Richard Cresswell is almost certainly out with cracked ribs while fellow striker Ched Evans – who suffered ligament damage while scoring twice for Wales Under 21s – is rated 50-50.
A verdict is also awaited on midfielder James Harper who has had a scan on his thigh.
Blackwell summed up: "It's one of those things and we can't worry about it."
But clearly the impact of the injuries will be a major handicap to United's hopes of maintaining a place in the top six. Realistically, they can't look beyond that right now.
Blackwell will hope to drag his side through to the turn of the year still in a competitive position and then have the resources, albeit financed by a Kilgallon sale, to cover over the cracks.
Meanwhile, former Blades star Phil Jagielka has moved a significant step closer to a first-team comeback after being out for six months following a cruciate knee injury.
The Everton and England defender suffered the injury against Manchester City in April and missed the Toffees' FA Cup final appearance at Wembley against Chelsea.
But the centre-back, who moved to Goodison for 4m in 2007 has at last been given permission this week to resume training with a football.
Now Jagielka, 27, is expected to come into first-team contention by mid-November.
Everton head physio Mick Rathbone said: "We are very pleased with Phil and he is doing some good quality ball work now.
"When we talk about the recovery time from a cruciate injury the absolute minimum is six months."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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