Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom admits they're short of numbers just a week from the start of the Premier League season.
Heckingbottom was speaking as he welcomed new signing Auston Trusty from Arsenal today.
The Blades have seen Billy Sharp, Enda Stevens, Reda Khadra, Ciaran Clark, James McAtee and Tommy Doyle all depart this summer.
“Everyone can see we are short," Heckingbottom told The Star. “We are way short. Even if you look at this time last year we have a couple of long-term injuries who were fit last year in Rhys and Rhian, so we haven't got them.
"We lost Bill and Enda, Reda, Ciaran, Macca, Tommy. They have all gone, and we have brought three in. We still need five to be anywhere near where we were in the Championship.
“The quality of that five will be important. If those five can affect the starting XI then it doesn't matter about numbers. We know we have stepped up to a bigger league, we need to compete. Everyone is working really hard. We are constantly communicating with Prince Abdullah and we will keep pushing and pushing to bring players in."
