'Doyle was what we were looking for and what we were after'

Paul Heckingbottom says Tommy Doyle "was what we were looking for and what we were after" but Sheffield United could not afford the midfielder.

Doyle made 38 appearances for the Blades as they won promotion last season and faces Heckingbottom's side with his new club Wolves on Saturday.

On whether Doyle was close to a Bramall Lane return in the summer, Heckingbottom said: "No. Listen, he wanted to and we'd have taken him, without a doubt. But City were keen to sell. Finances, that's all it was.

"I knew his character and also his technical ability. I was pretty sure he was what we were looking for and what we were after. He did great. We were good for him and he was good for us. I have nothing but praise for him, he's a good lad.

"We've had lots of good loans like that. Some [loan players] transition into it easier than others. Things fall into place and they can do it.

"I wouldn't necessarily say Tommy was like that, or Macca [James McAtee]. They had to fight and scrap to get in, and we had to work hard to get them to the level that would improve the XI.

"But it will always be about what you do on the pitch. Always."