Former Blades striker Carl Asaba believes Chris Wilder can get more out of the young Ireland international after identifying an issue with United's style of play.

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba has said that Blades boss Chris Wilder can get the best out of Tom Cannon as his lack of goals continues to raise eyebrows.

Cannon arrived at Bramall Lane with a hefty price tag, but the young Ireland international has yet to live up to expectations.

In his third season at the clubthe former Leicester City forward’s goal against Portsmouth marked his 11th for the club in 71 appearances; a record not many strikers would be content with.

By comparison, Patrick Bamford has scored 19 goals in 29 fewer games for United and the 33-year-old cost the Blades nothing.

Cannon does clearly offer the team something, but it’s sometimes difficult to put your finger on what that is; in fairness, the 23-year-old is more often than not fed ‘nothing balls’ for him to run on to, and he cannot be blamed for the lack of service he receives.

Bamford differs in profile and offers different types of goals, yet the discrepancy in numbers cannot be ignored.

Former United striker, Carl Asaba, hinted that Cannon’s teammates may need to adapt to his style of play.

“Cannon's working his socks off,” Asaba told the Star’s Inside Bramall Lane podcast. “He keeps getting up and trying to work it. But there were a number of times you can see Cannon's making these runs into the channel, and we're not a channel-running team.

“We're happy to play in behind and move up the pitch progressively. And I don't think it's suiting Cannon; he's a really willing runner into the channels, and we're not direct enough for him.”

The Ireland international has scored four goals so far this season, which is only two less than his total for last season in 37 appearances.

“Cannon's doing the workload, but he's not getting enough goals still, even though this season I think his ratio is a lot better than it's been previously,” Asaba added.

“He used to get a lot of stick from myself because initially I didn't know what he was. Was he a tricky in the box player? Is he working the channels? But he's got complete effort. He's really for the cause.

“He's a young boy, and the amount of stick he's taken, his mental strength, for me has blown me away because he's still there, he's offering himself up for the ball, he's still taking his shots. It's not like he's gone into his shell. We just need it to turn for him because we've seen at other clubs; he'll go on a run, and he will score a lot of goals.”.