Rangers January departure sent off in horror debut for new club as Scotland World Cup hopeful scores

Rothwell joined the Blades in an 18-month deal on transfer deadline day after falling out of favour at Ibrox and made his first appearance for his new club as a substitute in the English Championship clash on Monday night.

The 31-year-old was introduced at half-time at Bramall Lane with his side trailing 2-0 following first half goals from Scotland striker Tommy Conway and Riley McGree.

Rothwell helped his side mount a comeback bid after the break and Patrick Bamford reduced the deficit with 73 minutes on the clock.

However, any hopes of an equaliser were dashed when Rothwell was shown a straight red card in the 80th minute following a wild challenge on Alan Browne that all but ended any hopes of getting anything from the game.

Pundit Don Goodman, commenting for Sky Sports, said: "It's the kind of tackle that has the ability to injure an opponent. It's a scythe. A horrible tackle. It looks even worse slowed down."

The defeat leaves Chris Wilder’s side languishing down in 16th place in the table while a sixth successive victory took Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough top of the Championship, usurping Coventry City.

Speaking to SUTV, Wilder said: "Joe is extremely disappointed with himself, maybe a touch of frustration of a time away not playing first team football. It's a mistimed tackle and I've got no arguments about the decision made by the ref."

Conway's goal for Boro was his fourth in four games and his seventh of the season with the 23-year-old hitting form at the right time if he is to revive his 2026 World Cup hopes.

The 23-year-old was omitted from Steve Clarke's Scotland squads during the successful World Cup qualifying campaign last year having been a mainstay of the squad over the previous 18 months.

However, if he can continue his current form he could force himself back into the manager's thoughts ahead of the upcoming World Cup warm-up friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast at the end of March.

“I feel a little bit sorry for Tommy Conway that he’s missed out this time,” said Clarke in September. “But I’ve got Lyndon Dykes back fit and I just feel that Lyndon’s experience can give us a little bit more up front, certainly for these two away games. But Tommy’s another one who we shouldn’t forget about in the future.”