STEVE SIMONSEN has this afternoon temporarily left the Club to join Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.

The 30-year-old stopper, who has penned an initial one-month loan deal with the Blades, is expected to go straight into Kevin Blackwell's starting eleven for tomorrow's local derby clash against Doncaster Rovers.

Simonsen has made just seven appearances for the Potters this campaign as he has largely played second fiddle to regular number one Thomas Sorensen.

He moved further down the pecking order in January after the Club captured highly rated Bosnian international Asmir Begovic in a £3,250,000 deal from Portsmouth.

His highlight of the current campaign co-incidentally came against tomorrow's visitors Tottenham Hotspur, where he put in a man of the match display to help the Club to a memorable 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane in October.