The script was almost written for him.

Kevin Phillips, City’s summer signing from West Bromwich Albion, had previously netted on his debut for three of the five clubs encompassed in his career.

And ominously, he made it four out of six by netting the late winner - leaving Blades manager Kevin Blackwell frustrated.

United and Birmingham, both tipped by the bookmakers to make an impression on the final table in May, slugged it out in a game devoid of many clear cut chances that was apparently bound for a stalemate, until Phillips popped up as a substitute and bagged the winner in injury time.

Despite the close attention of Blades captain Chris Morgan, he swivelled and fired a low shot into Paddy Kenny’s left hand corner.

Phillips wheels away after scoring the winner

Picking the ball out of his net, deep into the 92nd minute of the game, was all Kenny had to do all afternoon, save for a few deep crosses from the impressive James McFadden. Former Blade Marcus Bent threatened United’s rearguard early on but Morgan and defensive partner Matthew Kilgallon stood strong and protected their goal. The latter was forced to take evasive action following a corner - the ball broke invitingly to a blue shirt inside the penalty area, forcing Kilgallon to throw himself at the ball and deflect it clear. Handing debuts to Darius Henderson, Sun Jihai and Greg Halford, and suprisingly only naming David Cotterill on the substitutes bench, Blackwell stated his ‘frustration’ at the sucker punch after looking good for a point from the game.

“I’m going to give Kevin all the credit because I’m so frustrated at the moment I might say things I don’t want to say,” Blackwell told Sky Sports after the game.

“I thought we were very well organised. I don’t think they caused us too many problems,” said Blackwell.

“I thought we gave a good performance, so in terms of that I’m pleased.

“We had to come here and put a marker down, everyone knows we’re a decent side, and hopefully we will get some luck at the end of the season when we need it.”

That point brings us nicely onto another bug-bear of Blades fans - the academy.  A drain on resources, they say. Never mind producing Billy Sharp et al (whose £100,000 transfer fee recieved probably paid for the academy for a year alone), along with Jagielka, Tonge and, to a lesser extent, Montgomery. Granted, the former pair were recruited from other clubs, but if United didn’t have a thriving academy programme that is declared successful by people with a lot more idea than we have, would they have developed to the undoubted level of performance they have reached today? Much this season is expected from Jordan Robertson and Kyle Naughton, and manager Kevin Blackwell has pledged to offer the youngsters their chance in the first team.

So, the summer signings? Well, not wanting to spoil a Blades tradition and dare to be too optimistic, here goes. Sun Jihai - proven Premier League performer, with numerous years of top flight experience with Manchester City and an established international, or a signing purely for United’s commercial interests? The second one, why not. Greg Halford - young and comes with a good reputation in football, on a loan so no outlay involved, or purely signed as a squad player with a long throw? Tempting, but again let’s plump for the second. Matthew Spring? A poor man’s Michael Brown (despite having a better record over previous seasons, looking hungry and actually wanting to come to Bramall Lane). Darius Henderson? Not needed. (Despite effectively swopping a forlorn and inconsistent Hulse for a fit and enthusiastic proven target man. Wait, James Beattie is also injured…).

Darius Henderson and Chris Morgan - pass the anti-depressents…

Predictions have been flooding Blades internet message boards, ranging from the sublime (winning the league by early April) to the frankly ridiculous (second half of the Championship table). Logic would dictate that, after a storming run under Blackwell towards the back end of the season, a season threatened by relegation seems somewhat unlikely, given the quality additions to the squad (oops, sorry - a bit of optimism there - that’d be about as welcome as Wednesday’s Tango Man belly bouncing sections of United’s Kop). In truth, a place among the Play Off positions in May must be the minimum target given to Blackwell, but some more funds could also find their way to the manager. Of course, because he’s worked with Neil Warnock before, he’ll most likely blow it on a waste of space farm in Cornwall. Or has he been guilty of the first part already…

Today’s signing of Matthew Spring, who played under the Sheffield United manager at both Leeds United and Luton Town, means that the former Watford man will see a familiar face when he reports to Shirecliffe in preperation for the season’s opener, at Birmingham City on August 9.

Blackwell, of course, will have indepth knowledge on the likes of Michael Tonge and Paddy Kenny, who starred for The Blades when he was United’s assistant manager in 2002/03, and also worked with Ian Bennett, Matt Kilgallon and Geoff Horsfield at Leeds United. It was indeed Blackwell who sold Rob Hulse to United in 2006/07, and again sold him as United manager, this time to Derby County earlier this month.

“Matt is a good midfield player who I know from Leeds and Luton,” Blackwell said.

“Financially, things are very difficult at Luton at the moment which is why we should be able to get him here.

“He was in Watford’s promotion winning side but the style there didn’t really suit him and I tried to sign him towards the end of last season.

“He’s a terrific athlete, gets up and down the pitch and into the box and, when Luton had a lot of games against Premiership opposition in the Cup, he was outstanding.”

Outstanding is one word that could also be used to describe Spring’s goal for Luton, against local rivals Watford.

The video’s not the best quality, but if Spring scores many like that at the Kop end of Bramall Lane, the fans may welcome Blackwell signing some more of his old boys…

Former loanee David Cotterill rejoins on a permanent basis after penning a three-year contract, and will be joined by Luton Town’s Matthew Spring, signed on a year-long loan deal from the troubled League Two side, and Maltese international goalkeeper Justin Haber will spend the next two years at Bramall Lane after arriving from Greek side Haidari.

Of the trio, Wales international Cotterill is the signing that will most appease United’s supporters, who have witnessed Blackwell almost constantly state his intentions to prise the former Bristol City winger away from Wigan Athletic. Cotterill, who will return to Sheffield for an undisclosed fee, spent a successful spell on loan at the club last season as United narrowly missed out on a Play-Off position in his three month spell in South Yorkshire.

“He’s only 20 and a full international. He has shown glimpses of the real potential that enabled Bristol City to sell him (to Wigan) for £2million,” said Blackwell.

‘Real potential’ - Wales international David Cotterill.

“David had set his heart on a move here, is prepared to look for a house in the area and we are showing the same commitment to bring him in.”

Former Watford man Spring will provide a familiar face for the United manager, who was worked with the midfielder at both Leeds United and Luton Town. Not so familiar a face is that of Haber, who is expected to provide competition for the places of Paddy Kenny and Ian Bennett of number 1 and 2 goalkeepers respectively. He does however have a past affiiliation with Bramall Lane, having been handed a trial by Neil Warnock two years ago, and believes the move will benefit all concerned.

“I am very happy to be here, especially after the manager showed such interest in me and knew a lot about me. Like always, I will be ready to compete for a place in the squad and will do my utmost to continue improving myself,” he said.

The speedy Jamaican has moved for an initial £1million fee, which could increase if his spell in Norway is successful.

“Luton wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, he was a bit of a maverick,” Blackwell told sufc.co.uk. “This opportunity arose for him to play regularly, and is just what he needs at this stage of his career.”

Shelton scored four times for United after his £1.85m move from Helsingborgs.

Meanwhile, Blackwell is expected to step up his efforts to bring David Cotterill to Bramall Lane.

The Welshman spent a highly successful on loan at Bramall Lane last season, and has expressed a desire to return. The major stumbling block appears to be the price - Wigan Athletic want to recoup the £2m they paid to Bristol  City, but United are understood to only have offered half of The Latics’ valuation of the winger.

“This is a terrific deal and Darius is the right player for the Blades, he fits the bill in every way. He is a hard worker, strong, takes knocks, never moans and that is what Sheffield United fans expect,” Blackwell told the club’s official website.

Blackwell: ‘Delighted’ to capture Henderson

“Darius isn’t a big lump who sits up there who you smash the ball up to, he has the ability to hold ball up in the last third and get people running off him, which is what I want.”

Henderson’s signing will also provide competition for James Beattie as the club’s number one striker. Beattie is expected to miss the first game of the Championship season, away to Birmingham City, with the calf complaint that has kept him out of the club’s pre-season preperations.

After months of intense speculation, Rob Hulse’s transfer from Sheffield United to recently-relegated Derby County has been confirmed.

Hulse was United’s leading scorer in their Premiership season, with eight goals, before breaking his leg against Chelsea.

The Blades were subsequently relegated, and Hulse failed to find the net since.

His transfer could be worth up to £1.75m. Hulse was signed from Leeds United for just over £2million, and scored on his debut on an opening day draw against Liverpool at Bramall Lane.

In front of around 4,000 fans in the Stadion Albert Flórián, Kevin Blackwell fielded a strong team and handed a debut to loan signing Greg Halford. Fellow summer signing Sun Jihai didn’t feature, but is expected to play when United move on to Belgium and Holland later this week.

Webber was making his return in a Blades shirt after missing a large part of last season with injury, and he wasted no time reminding the travelling Sheffield contingent of his talents by opening the scoring inside two minutes. After a fortunate deflection off the referee, Webber rounded the home goalkeeper and slotted the ball past Ivorian defender Sékou Tidiane Souare on the line.

Just eight minutes later, Webber doubled his tally and put United two goals up. After another mistake in the Fradi defence, from former Chengdu Blades defender Souare, the former Watford man put himself firmly in Blackwell’s thoughts by slotting the ball home via the underside of the crossbar. The two goal deficit woke up the home side, who halved United’s advantage and pulled a goal back through Csiszar on 29 minutes, heading home a curling free kick.

Another former Blade, Paul Shaw, then came close to equalising for the hosts, forcing Paddy Kenny into a smart save from inside the area. The half time whistle signalled a mass of substitutions for both sides, with Blackwell making six changes, but one player in the starting eleven, Jon Stead, had a great chance to restore United’s two-goal advantage but couldn’t capitalise after finding himself well clear, firing wide of goal.

Billy Sharp’s predatory instincts brought United a two goal cushion ten minutes from time. After Lee Hendrie’s effort had been parried by the home side’s substitute goalkeeper, Sharp was on hand to bury the rebound and put his name on the scoresheet. He was soon joined by another ex-Chengdu Blades player, Kourouma Mohamed Lamine, whose audacious effort beat Kenny and went in off the post to ensure a tense finish. Blades loanee Matthew Bartholomew came close to snatching an equaliser but Kenny was equal to the effort, tipping it over his crossbar, and United managed to hold out against increasing pressure to record their first win of the season.

Ferencvaros: Michael-Williams, Fulop, Szkukalek, Shaw, Fitos, Csiszar, Souare, Ashmore, Abdi, Bamba, Diaz.

Subs (all at half-time): Holczer, Dragoner, Baranyai, Nagy, Bartha, Downing, Lipcsei, Bartholomew, Toth, Wolfe, Lamine.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith (Armstrong 45), Morgan, Stead, Webber (Sharp 45), Hendrie, Speed (Quinn 45), Tonge (Montgomery 45), Gillespie (Naughton 68), Geary (Halford 45), Ehiogu (Kilgallon 45).

Unused: Bennett, Hulse, Sun Jihai, Carney.

McCabe, who has a growing portfolio of leisure and property ventures, has sold the Thames health club in Staines, Middlesex – making a gross profit of £0.7m in the process. Blades chief executive Jason Rockett confirmed that the money will aid investment in the first-team squad aimed at regaining the Premier League status they lost controversially two years ago.

McCabe - oversees the sale of United’s property portfolio.

“Selling Thames is a strategic move by the club and will, in part, help underpin the continued investment in football,” Rockett said.

“With the opening of the Copthorne Sheffield Hotel taking place in autumn 2008, which includes a new health club, it makes sense to realise a significant profit from the sale of the Thames Club allowing us to focus our capital and management resource on the new challenges.”

The sale is part of a strategy aimed at concentrating United’s off-the-field interests in and around the South Yorkshire area. The health club, boasting facilities including a 20m swimming pool, a sauna, conference centre and a sports bar, was acquired by The Blades in 2006 for £4m.

“The sale has realised a significant return on our investment,” Rockett continued.

“Thames was part of the diversification of our-off-the-field business through leisure and property, which will now have a much greater focus on South Yorkshire.”

United, who own Chinese club Chengdu Blades, have a healthy business and sporting relationship with the provience, and have signed Chinese stars Hao Haidong, Li Tie and most recently Sun Jihai in the last few years.

Sun is pictured below with the shirt.

Blades chairman Kevin McCabe said: “By giving the space on the front of the shirts to the British Red Cross, we will not only raise a significant amount of funds for the appeal, but also help raise its profile across the continent. This is being done with the blessing of our sponsors.

“This is the first time United have made such a gesture to a global charity and continues the club’s support for China and our sister club Chengdu Blades.”

The appeal raises money for the areas most affected by the earthquake earlier in the year, which claimed almost 70,000 in the Sichuan province alone, where the Chengdu Blades are based.

United’s pre-season kicks-off on Monday 14th July, against their Hungarian sister club Ferencvaros before moving on to play Belgian side KVK Tienen on 16th July and Dutch team Helmond Sport on 19th July.

They return home for fixtures against Scunthorpe United 26th July, Bury 29th July and Huddersfield Town on  2nd August before kicking off their Championship campaign against Birmingham City a week later on August 9.