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Sheffield Wednesday have refused an approach by SPL side Dundee United to take defender Graeme Coughlin on loan until the end of the season.

Craig Levein hoped that the 32-year-old Irish defender was the solution to his recent defensive nightmares, but Sheffield Wednesday have decided to keep Coughlin at Hillsborough – because 3 of their center-halves are currently out through injury.

Championship side Wednesday crashed out of the FA Cup 2-1 to Manchester City last mid-week, with defenders Richard Wood and John Hills missing the cup clash through injury.

Dundee United manager Craig Levein hasn’t been happy with his defence since arriving at the club in November, trying out several different defensive partnerships, without any real success.

25-year-old defender David McCracken was recently told that he was one of several players that will not be having his contract renewed in the summer, after Levein decided he was fed-up with the attitude of several 1st team players.

Levein has already signed up Hartlepool’s Jon Daly and Shebourne’s Sean Dillon during the January transfer window, but is still searching for at least one more defender to join the club until at least the end of the season.

Inverness Caley Thistle captain Darren Dodds is expected to make the move to Dundee United in the summer, but until then Levein wants to bring in an experienced player to stop his side leaking unnecessary goals.

“One of the players I was interested in was playing on Saturday and picked up an injury, so it looks like he can’t come,” said Levein.

“That’s the kind of thing that has been happening, but there is nothing you can do about it other than keep looking.”

“I’ll be asked about it every day and all I can really say is I am working hard to get a player who can do a job as soon as I can.”

Levein has also been linked with a loan move for West Ham’s Christian Dailly, the former Dundee United, Derby Country and Blackburn defender is coming to the end of his playing career, but his experiences could only benefit the Tannadice backline.