30th July Steven Kabba scored the only goal of the game to give United 1-0 a win over Sunderland in a friendly match at the Lane. Substitute Kabba struck in the 74th minute to give the Blades victory. A tackle by Danny Webber left Argentinean Arca with an injury and in turn sparked a 16-man melee just after the hour mark. But overall, United had had the better of the play throughout the match and Kabba eventually grabbed the winner when after some good build up play, involving Lilian Nalis and Michael Tonge; Andy gray shot was saved by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis before Kabba was on hand to prod home the rebound for the victory.

28th July Vice-chairman Terry Robinson has confirmed United have turned down a bid from Wigan Athletic for Phil Jagielka. Robinson refused to disclose the amount offered, but it is thought the bid was in excess of £3 million. He commented: "Our policy is not to sell our better players - it would take something rather alarming for us to change our mind, Wigan's bid was a substantial one, but from our point of view the rewards of keeping Phil outweighed that bid. They have submitted a bid and we've turned it down. You'll have to ask them if they're going to come back" and he added: "Unless someone comes in with a daft offer there is no reason to think he won't be at Sheffield United next season."

27th July Neil Warnock says Nick Montgomery will start the first game of the new season against Leicester City on 6th August despite being on the transfer list. Defender Craig Short is suspended for two matches, so, Phil Jagielka is expected to return to central defence and Warnock believes Montgomery will do a job in midfield.

26th July Neil Warnock does not expect to make any more signings before the start of the season. commenting of the situation he said: "I know the funds are in place, but it's very difficult to bring somebody in now who will get in the team, that's how pleased I am with the team at the moment. Agents are ringing me up and asking what I'm looking for, but I tell them 'not a lot, really' because I'm not."

24th July Blades striker Hao Haidong got on the scoresheet in front of his own countrymen as the Blades wrapped up their tour of China with a comfortable 2-0 win over Hu Nan Xian Jun in the southern city of Changsha. It was Neil Warnock's men who seemed more at home in the sweltering conditions and they duly took the lead in the 22nd minute as Haidong rose to meet a Lilian Nalis cross, glancing a header into the top corner from 10 yards. A solo effort from Jonathan Forte completed the scoring in the 66th minute as he picked the ball up on the edge of the 18-yard box before dispatching a low left-foot shot past the Chinese goalkeeper.

22nd July The Blades went down 3-1 in their second match of the tour of china against a Liao Ning Zhong Yu and Dalian Shide combined XI in the western city of Xi'an. Blades vice-chairman Terry Robinson was given the honour of taking the ceremonial kick-off alongside the home club's chairman in front of 22,000 fans in the Wulihe Stadium. United put in more than a competent performance tonight with some slick passing play and eventually were rewarded with Leigh Bromby headed against the woodwork before Hao Haidong made certain of a consolation goal. In the closing stages; United brought on two youngsters; Jiang Xiaoyu and Tang Jinkai who are both from United's Academy in China and played for the final 12 minutes of the match.

22nd July United have been boosted by the news that winger Paul Ifill is expected to be fit for the start of the new Championship season on August 6. Ifill flew home from the club's tour of China after injuring his shoulder but a scan revealed the injury is not as bad as first feared.

22nd July Steven Kabba and Paul Thirlwell are the latest players to be struck down by injury. Neil Warnock's first-team squad, currently on a three-match tour of China, has already been depleted by injuries to Andy Gray, Paul Ifill, Derek Geary, Andy Gray and Danny Webber. Now striker Kabba, looking to work his way back into Warnock's plans after two years in the injury wilderness, has sustained a hamstring strain and midfielder Thirlwell has a groin problem. Thirlwell is definitely out of the Blades second match against a combined Chinese XI consisting of players from Liao Ning Zhong Yu and Dalian Shide, while Kabba faces a late test.

21st July Derek Geary is the latest player to suffer injury on United's Far-East tour. The Blades full-back sustained a thigh strain during training and is expected to be ruled out for two weeks. The 25-year-old's setback follows hot on the heels of summer signing Paul Ifill's shoulder injury. Ifill was involved in a collision during the Blades' 3-0 win in their opening tour match against Zhejiang Lucheng and was later sent home. Striker Andy Gray had already returned to Sheffield after earlier succumbing to a calf injury. Boss Neil Warnock now has only 17 fit players in his squad that is scheduled to play further matches in China against Xi'an Anqingyuan (22 July) and Hunan Xiangjun (24 July).

20th July The Blades have signed Neil Shipperley from Crystal Palace on a two-year deal. The 30-year-old striker has joined United on a free transfer after being told he was surplus to requirements at Selhurst Park. Neil Warnock had been hoping to announce the signing before he jetted off to China but the deal was held up due to formalities at the Palace end. Commenting about the signing Warnock said: "Whilst this might not be a big money signing I'm absolutely delighted because we have needed someone like Neil since the 'Chief' (Wayne Allison) left. He's a player who can come on and change a game with his strength and experience, and we lacked that in some vital games last season. I like the fact that Neil wants to come here. There were six clubs in for him, he spoke to two, but he made it clear he wanted to join Sheffield United. In fact he said that if he wasn't allowed to come here then he would go nowhere and stay at Palace."

20th July United have been hit by a double blow ahead of the new Championship season. Blades midfielder Paul Ifill has returned early from China after suffering a shoulder injury, while Danny Webber pulled up during a training session with a groin strain. Ifill joins Andy Gray (calf) in returning to the Lane after damaging his shoulder during the game against China Green Town (Zhejiang Lucheng). The £800,000 signing from Millwall was set to stay with his new team-mates in the Far East but the club doctors believed it was best for him to return home.

18th July The Blades opened their tour of China with a resounding 3-0 win over China Green Town (Zhejiang Lucheng) in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Goals from Lilian Nalis, Danny Webber and Michael Tonge secured a comfortable win in front of an estimated 16,000 at the Hangzhou Huanglong sports centre. The Blades launched their attacks from the right wing during the first half through Leigh Bromby, Nick Montgomery and Paul Ifill who netted the opener in the 15th minute. The home sides' defence was again beaten in the 60th minute when Webber found the net from a corner. Ten minutes later, Tonge grabbed a third. The only downside from the match was an arm injury sustained by Paul Iffil after colliding with an opponent.

17th July Andy Gray became the first casualty of United's pre-season tour of China when he flew home to Sheffield nursing a calf strain. The striker was ordered to leave the team's base as a precautionary measure after sustaining the injury during training. The Blades medical staff are adamant the problem will not have an adverse effect on Gray's preparations for the new campaign and are confident he will be ready for next month's Championship opener with Leicester City.

14th July Luke Beckett has agreed to a long-term loan deal at Oldham Athletic with a view to a permanent move. The 28-year-old former Chesterfield and Stockport County striker spent a successful loan spell at Boundary Park last season and has been a top target for Latics boss Ronnie Moore ever since. Beckett scored six goals in nine games for Oldham and prior to that netted as many goals in seven matches while on loan at Huddersfield Town. The Blades paid £50,000 to bring Beckett to the Lane in November last year, but he failed to break into the first team and was subsequently loaned out. The initial 12-month loan deal will cost Oldham £50,000 and they have an option to buy Beckett permanently at the end of the season for a further £85,000.

11th July A record crowd watched Paul Ifill, Craig Short and Lilian Nalis make their debuts for United at Worksop Town. And it was a single goal just before half-time that beat a plucky Tigers side in this pre-season friendly at Sandy Lane. The only goal came on 44 minutes from Michael Tonge. Andy Gray had one attempt hacked-off the line before hitting the crossbar from the penalty spot after 70 minutes.

7th July Chris Morgan has ended all unfounded speculation regarding his future by signing a two-year contract extension. Morgan, still had a year to run on his previous contract but has now committed himself to the Lane until the summer of 2008.The combative Blades centre-half made a total of 47 appearances for United last season.

4th July Neil Warnock is hoping to add more new faces to his squad in the coming weeks. After the departure of Andy Liddell to Oldham and Danny Cadamarteri to Bradford, the Blades boss is hoping to free up cash to bring in fresh faces. Warnock has already brought in Craig Short, Lilian Nalis and Paul Ifill, while Danny Webber has been signed on a permanent deal from Watford. Rob Kozluk, Nick Montgomery, Paul Thirlwell, Luke Beckett and Paul Shaw are all still on the transfer list and are attracting interest from other clubs, according to Warnock. Commenting about the situation he said: "We've had quite a few enquiries for these lads and we will have to look at that over the next few days, see what else comes in and then decide. Obviously I want to bring in new players so letting some players go will free up some of my wage budget. I'm delighted to have the three players we have already tied up on board and I'm sure there will be two or three more players to come in the next few weeks." United have missed out on several target signings including goalkeeper Ian Bennett now at Leeds and striker Heidar Helguson now Fulham. Warnock is understandably very wary of mentioning names and starting auctions for players; but it is thought that a quality striker must be a priority for the Blades boss after losing out on Helguson.

2nd July United have recruited two young players on one-year contracts from other clubs' academies. Australian-born midfielder Kyle Nix, 19, joins from Aston Villa and is an England Under-19 international. Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker or centre-back Gary Mulligan, 20, was just released by Wolves and had a loan spell at Rushden & Diamonds last season. United have aslo given professional contracts to six of their Academy youngsters. Stephen Quinn, Travis Binnion, Ryan Gyaki, Colin Marrison, Kyle McFaydean and Nick Travis.