Blackpool pair Clarke and Phillips join Sheffield Utd

Sheffield United have made a double signing in time for Sunday's first Steel City derby in 18 months.

Blackpool midfielder Matt Phillips and striker Billy Clarke have joined Danny Wilson's Blades on a month's loan.

Clarke, 24, has made just four starts this season for the Seasiders, while Phillips, 20, has figured even less.

But boss Ian Holloway was happy to let the pair go in search of first-team football - starting by being pitched in for the Bramall Lane showdown.

"I've told Danny Wilson he can have them for 28 days and, if it goes well, I'll get my blokes back flying," Holloway told Blackpool's club website.

"I want Matt to regain the total confidence he had in himself last year. Wherever I played him he was great.

"He scored from right-back against Blackburn. He played right wing at Manchester City and ripped their left-back apart, but he doesn't look quite the same at the moment.

"As for Billy, I believe he needs to regain confidence in his body. He has spent a whole year getting over an injury and he is probably in a worse mental state than all of us because he never even kicked a ball in the Premier League and we are out of it again. I don't think it will take him long to get his sharpness and belief back."