Last season was something of a breakthrough campaign for Iliman Ndiaye as he linked-up well with loanee Morgan Gibbs-White. However, this year the Senegal international, currently at the Word Cup with his country, has gone up a few more levels with a host of stunning perfomances as the Blades aim for promotion back to the Championship.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom said it was the player's hard work and taking on board what his coaches wanted from him that has seen Ndiaye become one of the division’s most exciting stars.
“The talent was there, it was just about teaching him the game,” he said. “When I came in, I had to go after the young players. They were nowhere near the level, in terms of the training and how they played.
“Application, too. Nowhere near. Within a few days of working with Iliman, he’d responded. How he plays now, and what has made everyone talk about him, that’s what he started doing.”
As for McBurnie, the Scotland international had been at a low ebb and on a goalless run that looked like never ending. That was until he struck against Luton Town near the beginning of this season and since then he hasn’t looked back.
Heckingbottom told The Star last month: "He's showing you what he is. That previously wasn't him; he was letting himself down and it's not the goals that have led to a shift, it's a shift in him and his approach to everything. That's led to the goals.
"He's done it himself, he's made a lot of changes and responded well and I think he's got the bit between his teeth again, which is great to see."
We looked at the goal contributions of the top ranking players in the Championship to see how Ndiaye and McBurnie compare.
5. Oscar Estupinan - Hull City - 9 Goal Contributions
Hull City may be at the wrong end of the table but where would they be without the eight goals and an assist that Oscar Estupinan has brought them so far? Photo: George Wood
6. Chuba Akpom - Middlesbrough - 9 Goal Contributions
Chuba Akpom has scored eight times for Middlesbrough so far this campaign and provided one assist. Four of those goals came in the last month after a great run of form before the break for the World Cup Photo: George Wood
7. Viktor Gyökeres - Coventry City - 9 Goal Contributions
Viktor Gyökeres of Coventry City was also in a fine run of form with a late burst before the break (three in three games) taking him to nine goals for the season, with no assists. Photo: Graham Chadwick
8. Teemu Pukki - Norwich City - 10 Goal Contributions
Teemu Pukki may not be hitting the heights that he has in the past but the Norwich City striker has still scored six and assisted four in this campaign Photo: Gareth Copley