DEAN WINDASS will today rejoin Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.

The Middlesbrough midfielder, who had won praise after leading the line as a stand-in striker in the FA Cup third-round defeat at Chelsea a week earlier, wasn't even among the substitutes for Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Southampton.

Boro manager Steve McClaren has agreed to let 33-year-old Windass return to Bramall Lane after he scored three goals in four games during his initial loan stint, which ended in December.

Blades boss Neil Warnock wants Windass to boost his side's First Division promotion drive; they are nine points behind second-placed Leicester with two games in hand.

Windass could go straight into the side for tonight's crucial game away to leaders Portsmouth.

But he isn't available for the Worthington Cup - United take a 2-1 lead to Liverpool for the secong leg of their semi-final - after appearing for Boro against Brentford in round two.

Boro will continue to pay half of Windass's wages while he is in South Yorkshire.

Windass was ably supported in the second half at Chelsea by Noel Whelan, who came on as an interval substitute for the second week running to spark Boro's fightback against Southampton.

Whelan, whose only Premiership start this season came on the opening day when Boro drew 0-0 at Southampton, struck a spectacular 73rd-minute goal on Saturday to record his first in the top-flight this term.

McClaren admitted: "Noel has been itching for his opportunity. He did very well the week before when he came on at Chelsea.

"We said to him that he had to wait for his opportunity and when the chance came make sure he took it, and this was the perfect answer.''

Boro, who had suffered three consecutive 1-0 away defeats in League and Cup without scoring, were trailing to a brilliant James Beattie double and facing their first home reverse this season.

But Whelan intervened before fellow substitute Massimo Maccarone converted a penalty seven minutes from time.

McClaren confessed: "After three defeats on the bounce you could see that confidence had been eroded.

"But we're missing major players through injury in George Boateng, Ugo Ehiogu and Juninho.''

Centre-back Ehiogu could be out longer than expected after puncturing a lung and breaking two ribs in the New Year's Day defeat at Blackburn.

Boro were resigned to being without the England international for two months, but McClaren said: "It'll be three or four weeks before Ugo is even up and about - and then he's got to get fit again.

"He just has to sit in his chair and then he might go away on holiday."

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