'Wow' - Paul Merson blown away by Sheffield Utd talent, urges Wilder to give him more minutes

The veteran hitman came off the bench to score the winning goal against the Magpies – a confidently converted penalty kick that he himself had pressured Federico Fernandez into conceding.

And after his match-winning turn on Tuesday night, Merson is convinced that he must be given more opportunities to add to the six Premier League appearances he has made so far this term.

Speaking on Soccer Saturday, the former Arsenal man said: “Again, Billy Sharp comes on the pitch and does more in 20 minutes than all the centre-forwards have done for however long.

"He scores a goal, he’s well up for it.

"When he was coming on his arms were like… I thought ‘Wow, he looks in shape’.

"He scores the goal, and he’s got no right to get that penalty. The lad’s got a couple of yards on him, he’s used his strength. He’s done the lad, he tried to use a bit of firepower.

"But everything he did in the game, I’ve said all the time, ‘Get your goalscorers on the pitch’.

"If he’s no good, why is he taking the penalty? He’s a goalscorer.”

Sharp has struggled to cement his place in the Blades’ starting XI this season, and four of his six top flight outings have come from the bench.

The 34-year-old also scored a decisive goal during the 1-1 draw against Fulham back in October.