Sheffield United: Seven things you didn't know about Alex Baptiste

Sheffield United have today signed defender Alex Baptiste on loan from Middlesborough until the end of the season.

Here are seven key facts about the career of the 30-year-old...

* Baptiste suffered a broken leg in a pre-season friendly just five days after signing for Middlesborough in July 2015.

* He was originally a midfielder but reverted to a central defender as he came through the ranks as a teenager at Mansfield Town.

* The defender made his professional debut for The Stags in April 2003 at the tender age of 17.

* Baptiste went on to make 198 senior appearances for Mansfield, scoring six goals.

* He scored on his Premier League debut in August 2010, in a 4-0 win for Blackpool away at Wigan Athletic.

* He went on to score a total of eight goals in 170 appearances for Blackpool.

* While on loan at Blackburn Rover last season Baptiste scored three times, including a goal against Sheffield Wednesday.