Sheffield United chief executive Trevor Birch has insisted he still has faith in manager Kevin Blackwell. The Blades are currently languishing in mid-table and Blackwell has come under pressure as a result of the poor run but his task has been made much more difficult by a number of injuries to key players.

Having worked with Blackwell during his stint as Leeds boss, Birch is convinced he is the man to turn around the club's fortunes.

"I rate Kevin as a manager very highly," Birch said in the Daily Express.

"We've worked together before and I know him to be an extremely hard worker and well organised.

"He was extremely unlucky at Leeds, and also here with injuries.

"He has not got the tools he needs in terms of player fitness, but I'm sure he will sort things out.

"Kevin, the chairman Kevin McCabe and I will be planning a strategy for what we can do in January."