Andy Butler was shopping when Walsall called

The central defender was browsing the displays at Sheffield's Meadhowhall Centre – in Topman to be precise – when he received a call telling him he was heading back to Walsall on loan.

When the news broke yesterday afternoon it seemed extraordinary but, like many of football's best tales, it was played out in circumstances rather less dramatic than often imagined.

"It was yesterday I first heard of anything," said Butler. "I was in Meadowhall and I got a phone call off Sheffield United saying Walsall have come in for a loan move.

"I knew there had been rumours but I have not spoken to anyone at the club. Rumours are rumours, you get them everywhere.

"They told me Walsall had come in and they had accepted the offer, just come in and sign some papers, which I did before leaving there and coming here."

And just like that, Butler was back at the Banks's and back in a Saddlers shirt.

A move which only a month ago would have appeared impossible had happened. The player whose future fans had fretted over at the close of last season and who opted to leave had returned, albeit on a temporary basis, less than five weeks into the next campaign.

Granted, a Butler return had seemed more likely in recent weeks as he failed to feature in Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough's plans.

A trip to see the Saddlers play Bradford last month, which he maintains was innocent, raised eyebrows and a return to his former club had been mooted when Clough confirmed Butler could go out on loan earlier this week.

Yet it still seemed a little strange to see him back in WS1, beaming a broad smile as he talked about his return.

Butler is not naive enough to believe he will return to a hero's welcome even if his time away has been short. Some tricky questions needed to be answered and, to his credit, he pre-empted most.

"People will say the distance has not changed but when you have a smile on your face it does take the distance away," he said, before the subject of the commute from his base in Yorkshire, his main reason for leaving the Saddlers in the summer, had been raised.

"I have got (goalkeeper) Richard O'Donnell to travel with now.

"I know it was the same distance last year but I just want to play football and I will do whatever it takes to play football. If it means travelling then it means travelling."

The "whatever it takes" line is the key one. These have not been happy times for Butler, who has played just once for Sheffield United since signing a two-year deal with the Blades in June. Now he is back in the place he feels happiest and ready to explode a few other internet forum myths.

It was not, he says, his wife's decision to move the family back to Yorkshire. Nor has there been any major falling out with Clough, though he admits he has found the last few weeks tough.

"I have gone from playing every week here to playing once," he said. "But that is football. I have been in the game long enough to know it is just a game of opinions.

"If the gaffer thinks there is someone else better than you that is all that matters.

"I work hard in training and you try and change his mind but obviously if the lads are performing on the pitch, which they have started to do in the last few games ,you can't drop them.

"It is about balance. My being miserable has affected my family.

"My mum and dad were brilliant, they have picked the kids up from school and my wife has been telling me do what you want to do, if it makes you happy do it.

"My family is big to me so as long as I'm happy it is all good."

Now he is back, Butler's aim is simple.

"I want to play games, that is all I want to do," he said. "When you are a football players not playing it is disheartening. I was more than happy to come here.

"I know the place inside out and hopefully the fans can forgive me for leaving. I know the players so hopefully I can just slide into the formation a little bit."