Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell has revealed how the Blades were agonisingly close to clinching a deal with Blackburn midfielder Aaron Mokoena.

The South African was on the verge of signing with the Championship club but a spate of injuries to the Rovers meant that Sam Allardyce required his services at Ewood Park.

"That [Mokoena] was all done and dusted, but Blackburn had a couple of injuries and he had to stay," Blackwell told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"He is the player we lost out on and he was the one that was at the game with us at Preston on Saturday."