Webber, who has scored three goals during the opening two games of a whistle-stop tour of the continent, is entering the final year of his present deal at Bramall Lane and recently hinted he is ready to negotiate another.

Manager Kevin Blackwell confirmed that Rob Hulse's contractual situation played a part in his decision to sell the striker to Derby County.

And Blackwell, whose side complete the European leg of their pre-season programme against Helmond Sport this evening, acknowledged that resolving Webber's future is among the matters he must address as his squad for the forthcoming campaign starts to take shape.

But, despite interest in Webber from Crystal Palace, Blackwell will not be backed into a corner.

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"Danny has done very well and I'm well aware of the fact he is in his last year," Blackwell said.

"He's not played for a long time because of injury and so the priority must be to ensure he is fully fit again.

"Then we'll take a look at things and see what we can do."

The former Watford and Manchester United forward, who moved to United in March 2005, faces stiff competition from Billy Sharp and Jon Stead to win a starting berth alongside James Beattie when Blackwell's side travel to Birmingham City next month.

But his trickery and pace have also seen him identified as a possible solution to United's creativity problems in midfield as talks aimed at securing David Cotterill's release from Wigan extend into a second month.

Webber is expected to receive a further opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Blackwell's firs-choice 11 when United visit Scunthorpe next Saturday before completing their warm-up programme with matches against Bury and Huddersfield Town.

Blackwell has previously toyed with the idea of employing Webber in a deeper-lying role and the 26-year-old's impressive performances appear to have convinced coaching staff that it is worthy of further consideration, especially if officials at the JJB Stadium continue to drag their feet over Cotterill's proposed transfer.

Meanwhile, United have entered into a partnership with housing specialists Lovell and Sheffield Homes to help improve reading skills at five city schools.

Pupils from Meersbrook Bank, Porter Croft, Norton Free C of E, Lower Meadow and Meadowhead have been performing literacy-based exercises at Bramall Lane's study centre.

Andy Daykin, United's commercial manager, said: "Both Lovell and Sheffield United are committed to educational programmes across the community."

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