How Oli McBurnie has shown what Sheffield United's strikers must achieve in the Premier League next season

Players capable of regularly scoring 15 plus goals at the highest level cost an eye-watering amount of money and command salaries to match. United, having spent 12 years outside the top-flight, were simply not in the market.

Faced with the problem of trying to equip them with the necessary firepower on a relatively meagre budget, Wilder’s solution was to revert to type. As he had done with great success during his first three seasons at the helm, the former Halifax, Oxford and Northampton Town chief decided to focus on individuals who, for some reason or another, had yet to fulfil their potential. In some instances it was because of age - Oli McBurnie, previously of Swansea City, had only just turned 23 when he arrived at Bramall Lane. In others, such as former AFC Bournemouth centre-forward Lys Mousset, because they were talented but flawed. But the common denominator of everyone who joined as United prepared for the new campaign was they possessed, providing they applied themselves during training and showed a willingness to learn, the capacity to improve.

With the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic forcing United’s hierarchy to revise the amount they had planned to place at Wilder’s disposal following Sunday’s visit to Southampton, the club’s attempt to build upon the progress it has made over the past 12 months is likely to hinge upon the ability of McBurnie, Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick to provide a more lethal threat next term.

“We have to look at all departments and they have to tick a lot of boxes,” Wilder said. “I don’t think they’ll be any huge signings at the top end of the pitch. We’ve done well. But we’ve got to keep on getting better if we want to keep on winning games in this division.”

With Mousset’s long-term future shrouded in doubt - he has returned to France to be with his partner and their new born baby - McBurnie, who has also hit six league goals this term, will enter United’s final assignment of the 2019/20 season as their most prolific forward. With Wilder’s frontline claiming only 17 between them since August - four fewer than Southampton’s Danny Ings has bagged on his own across the same period - this is one area where Wilder privately concedes United must up their game in order to improve their chances of establishing themselves among the game’s elite. A well-organised defence has been the driving force behind United’s climb to eighth in the table ahead of the meeting with Ralf Hasenhuttl’s side - 13 clubs have netted more times in the competition over the past 11 months - and Wilder will want to reduce the pressure on it to keep opponents at bay when competition resumes.

It is for precisely this reason that he, assistant manager Alan Knill and coach Matt Prestridge, have been heartened by McBurnie’s progress in recent weeks. A third of the Scotland international’s goals have come during ‘Project Restart’ and on the evidence of his most recent displays, McBurnie’s game is maturing in other areas too. Although they did not say so publicly at the time, United suspected his career in South Yorkshire would be something of a slow-burn. But, as Wilder recently reminded, it is on an upward trajectory.

“We bought Oli as a young player and we’ve watched him improve,” he said. “It’s inevitable they’ll take small steps backwards at times but he’s been a handful and he’s getting his goals now as well.

“Oli has got to be looking at double figures next season. There’s a certain number we want from our forwards, and I don’t mind how that number comes, for us to continue to be a Premier League club.”

Although he declined to reveal exactly what that number is, Sharp and McGoldrick will also be expected to contribute more. Particularly the latter who, despite hearing Wilder insist he would “always select Didzy because he brings so much more to the table”, was forced to wait until the slaying of Chelsea a fortnight ago to register his first top-flight goals. If Mousset is moved on, his replacement is likely to face a similar challenge to the one McBurnie confronted after leaving the Liberty Stadium. And while he gets to grips with it, McGoldrick, Sharp and McBurnie himself must deliver the goods in order to prevent United from being forced to eke-out results. Over the past three years, West Ham are the only English team to take part in the Europa League having not seen one of their players score 10 or more goals the season before. And they qualified via the fair play rankings.

“Chances are at premium,” Wilder said, reflecting on United’s wins over Spurs and Chelsea which, until Monday’s defeat by Everton, had seen them challenge for a place in the tournament. “Our best performances and results have come when the lads have been clinical - like those two.

“We’re not going to get 12 or 15 chances a game at this level and so we have to improve. There’s a lot more to playing at the top end of the pitch than sticking the ball away, it’s the toughest job of all. But it’s important we continue to improve and the lads should take confidence from their performances.”

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