Ikeme, 23, who has just completed a loan stint at Charlton, will go straight into Kevin Blackwell's squad for Saturday's clash at Bristol City.

Blackwell said: "With Ian Bennett out for an indeterminate amount of time we had no other goalkeeper at the club apart from Mark Bunn and with seven games between now and the new year I couldn't afford to go into that period without another one in.

"Goalkeeping coach Andy Leaning and I have watched him [Ikeme] a couple of times recently and of the keepers available he came out top as far as we're concerned.

"He's involved straight away and I've told him and Bunny they have to fight out the number one spot and prove to me they deserve it."

Meanwhile, Stoke defender Andrew Davies, on loan with the Blades since mid-September, is due to return to the Britannia Stadium on December 19.