He was loaned out to First Division Sheffield United in January 1996, where he was reunited with Howard Kendall, who was manager at Everton during his first loan spell at the club. He scored twice in six games for the "Blades", before he was sent out on loan to West Bromwich Albion in March. Manager Alan Buckley used him as a substitute on three occasions, before he returned to Roker Park. After being forced to train with the youth team at Sunderland, he returned to Stockport County in August 1996, now managed by Dave Jones, for a £120,000 fee.