Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell has confirmed his interest in signing Michael Tonge and Gary McSheffrey.

Blackwell is scouring the loan market for reinforcements after seeing 10 players ruled out of this weekend's game at Scunthorpe.

Former United ace Tonge has been mentioned as a possible target after failing to hold down a starting spot at Stoke, while Birmingham are willing to loan out winger McSheffrey.

Blackwell is keen to bolster his squad, but he will not be rushed into any signings with all his current loan players fit and available to him.

"Tonge and McSheffrey are two names I have considered and I won't dismiss them as possibilities, but I already have six loanees available and can only play five," said Blackwell.

"As virtually all of them are fit out of 12 players who are training they would have to play anyway - or I would have to shuffle things around again.

"If I can get some of the strikers fit soon I might then look at a midfield loan."