Defender John Halls could be handed a prolonged run in Sheffield United's starting line-up following the injury to Derek Geary.Reading full-back Halls, drafted in on loan earlier this month, made his first appearance for the Blades in Saturday's win at Barnsley when replacing Geary, who sustained a hamstring injury.

And United manager Kevin Blackwell said: "John has only been here a week. There's been so much happening around the football club that his head's been buzzing, but I thought he did a good job.

"Geary has a hamstring strain so he's doubtful for a while now, but I thought John came in and did a great job."

Halls is expected to resume at full-back when the Blades take on Preston on Saturday as Chris Armstrong, one player who could have stepped in for Geary, is recovering from a hernia operation.

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