SHEFFIELD United manager Kevin Blackwell will step-up his search for Rob Hulse's replacement this week.
Blackwell, who agreed to sell the former Leeds and West Bromwich Albion marksman to Derby County on Thursday, has received the all-clear from Bramall Lane's board of directors to use the £1.7m fee he expects to receive to sign a striker capable of challenging James Beattie as the club's undisputed number one.
Beattie netted 22 times during his debut season in South Yorkshire but missed United's whistle-stop tour of Europe to receive treatment on a niggling injury problem.
Saturday's 4-1 victory over Dutch second division side Helmond Sport saw Blackwell's men return home with a perfect record of three wins from three games but despite scoring 10 goals in the process, he is determined to add even more firepower to an attack which also boasts Billy Sharp, Jon Stead and a resurgent Danny Webber.
United's players were rewarded for their efforts by being granted leave from Shirecliffe this afternoon but Blackwell plans to spend the evening behind his desk sifting through a short-list of possibilities.
Watford's Darius Hender son fits the bill perfectly and, valued at around £2.5m, is within United's budget but a number of other names, including Bolton Wanderers' Heidar Helguson have also been linked with moves to the Steel City; although Blackwell recently distanced himself from reports claiming he has made a bid for the Iceland international.
Predictably, Blackwell has refused to be drawn on would-be targets but he did confirm that United, who send a mixed XI to Stocksbridge tomorrow night (7.45pm), have received a clean bill of health from following their exertions in Hungary, Belgium and Holland.
"There are no problems with any of the lads," he said. "Obviously there are one or two little aches and strains but nothing that you wouldn't expect to see at this stage."
With the arrival of Greg Halford and Sun Jihai boosting United's options, Blackwell started the process of trimming his squad by allowing Chris Lucketti to join Huddersfield Town.
And he could find himself contemplating an offer for Luton Shelton if Norwegian outfit Valarenga pursue their interest in the 22-year-old.
Shelton, who cost £1.8m when he left Helsingborgs in January 2007, is also believed to be attracting attention from two Swedish teams.
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