MIDFIELDER Simon Walton will return to Plymouth Argyle to continue his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Argyle have agreed to terminate Walton's season-long loan to Championship club Sheffield United.

The 22-year-old

(left)

suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in the first half of Blades' opening pre-season game, against Mansfield Town, in July.

It was feared Walton would be out of action for the whole of the 2010/11 campaign, but he has now been told he could be ready to resume playing by February.

Sheffield United were committed to paying a part of Walton's salary — but not a substantial percentage of it — even after his knee injury.

And that will continue to be the case, even though the loan arrangement has now been cancelled.

Argyle executive director Keith Todd told Herald Sport: "In terms of the financial deal between the clubs that is still intact.

"We are no worse off with Simon coming back than if he had, technically, stayed on loan at Sheffield United."

Todd continued: "There is a limit to the number of loan signings clubs can have, so from Sheffield United's point of view he was filling one of those spots.

"We agreed to co-operate with them but, like I say, there is no difference in the financial arrangement between the clubs."

Walton had a successful operation to repair the damage to his knee, while still living in Sheffield, and has yet to return to Plymouth.

He said: "The doctors reckoned it wouldn't be right to travel such a long distance at the moment so I'm still up here.

"I will be going back when I get the all-clear from them.

"What I have got to focus on now is getting fit again. They have told me that, hopefully, I could be okay around February time."

Kevin Blackwell signed Walton for Sheffield United in July, having previously worked with him at Leeds United.

Blackwell had appeared ready to wait for Walton to return to fitness before deciding on whether he had a future with the south Yorkshire side.

But Blackwell parted company with the Blades last month, and first team coach Gary Speed was promoted to the role of manager.

That prompted Sheffield United to try to seek a resolution over Walton's ill-fated loan move.

Walton signed a lucrative four-year contract with Argyle when he arrived from Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee in August 2008.

However, he has played only 14 games for the Pilgrims, after failing to impress former manager Paul Sturrock.

Walton had a short loan spell at Blackpool at the end of the 2008/09 season, when he played only once as a substitute.

Crewe Alexandra then borrowed Walton for most of last term, with the midfielder making a total of 33 appearances.

Meanwhile, Argyle's Onismor Bhasera will hope to add to his 13 appearances for Zimbabwe when they play away to Liberia in Paynesville tomorrow.

It is their first game in qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Also in Group A are Mail and Cape Verde.

Zimbabwe have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations on only two previous occasions, in 2004 and 2006. But they failed to make it past the first round each time.

ARGYLE will send a side to play Newton Abbot Spurs at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday (7.30pm).

It will mark the official opening of the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division One East club's new floodlights.

Argyle are expected to include some first team squad members in their line-up.