The Wales winger, who arrives from Wigan Athletic, completed a medical at Shirecliffe yesterday and goes straight into Robson's squad for the crucial Championship fixture.

Cotterill cost £2m when he moved to the JJB Stadium from Bristol City in 2006 and won his latest international cap during the Principality's victory over Norway on Wednesday.

"He is very direct and quick," Robson said. "And can play either on the right or up front. I have been watching him for a long time and tried getting him earlier in the season but Steve Bruce had only just arrived."

Lee Martin will open talks with United about a permanent move to Bramall Lane this summer after admitting he will probably be forced to leave Manchester United to further his career.

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The on-loan winger, who turns 21 today, hopes to celebrate his birthday by guiding Bryan Robson's side to victory over relegation threatened Scunthorpe.

Martin concedes that he has yet to hit peak form since striking a temporary agreement with United last month but, insisting that it is only a matter of time before he is firing on all cylinders, revealed: "I'm realistic. "I'm 21 on Saturday and I've got to ask myself is it going to happen at Manchester United?

"I've been around the first team there for two years and made two senior appearances.

"In my eyes I might need to move on.

"People don't realise the competition there. The ones who hang around until they are 23 or 24, if it doesn't happen it's a long fall, and it can even be the end of their careers.

"Don't get me wrong, it's really improved me being there (Old Trafford) because I've been training with world class players.

"We'll have to see what happens.

"Ultimately it's up to the two managers. (Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson)."

Martin's pace and ability to add genuine width are precious commodities in football and despite seeing a niggling ankle injury hamper his early days in South Yorkshire, the Taunton-born winger already enjoys a prominent place in Robson's plans.

United's poor league position - they are 16th in the Championship and eight points short of the play-offs - has provoked a stormy reaction from some sections of the club's support but Martin is still enjoying life with Robson's squad.

"I just want to play football," he added. "With the players we've got, on paper, we should be at the top.

"But we've got to do our talking on the pitch."

United have been fined £20,000 for failing to control their players during an incident at Norwich last year.
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