Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan is aiming for a return to training next summer following his season-ending knee injury. The central defender, 32, will undergo surgery next week after rupturing his ACL and cruciate ligaments during last Saturday's home defeat to Coventry.

Morgan, whose operation will be performed by the same surgeon who recently looked after Gary Naysmith and Phil Jagielka, said: "Knowing people like those and others who have been in my situation is helpful for me to know what to expect and a lot of them have been in touch to wish me well.

"This is without doubt the most serious injury I have had but it seems to be more common these days, probably because players now recover from them rather than be regarded as finished as they might have been a few years ago.

"The likes of Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Roy Keane have had the op and came back and I aim to do the same as quickly as possible.

"Starting pre-season work with the rest of the squad next summer is my target."