Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp is a pivotal figure for the club.
Sheffield United forward Billy Sharp arguably holds the key to his side’s playoff hopes as he once again proved his worth with two goals in the recent 3-1 victory at Championship strugglers Reading.
The Blades are looking to become the third team in the past decade to win back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, following Southampton and later Norwich City.
Chris Wilder’s men have seemingly overcome their slump to win three of their past four league games, pushing themselves back in to the playoff positions at the expense of Lee Johnson’s Bristol City.
Sheffield United have a great chance of making the top six come May, but ultimately their hopes rest on former Leeds United striker Sharp remaining fit and doing what he does best, and that is finding the net.
As illustrated by the Tweet posted by Opta Joe, the Yorkshire club have won 62% of their matches when Sharp starts (13 from 21) while without him they have managed to win just four of 13 (31% win rate).
The 32-year-old has netted 12 goals and added a further four assists in 21 Championship starts, a record comparable with the very best forwards in the league such as Matej Vydra and Leo Bonatini.
Sharp has plenty of experience, winning promotion with Scunthorpe United and Southampton prior to helping the Blades return to the Championship with a League One title win last term.
With 12 games remaining, the fight for the top six looks like it could go down to the wire with Middlesbrough, Preston North End and Brentford also in the race and all within five points of United.
Wilder knows his side have performed with admiration so far this season, and he will be hopeful his goal scoring duo of Sharp and Leon Clarke will maintain their form to book their ticket in the playoff lottery.
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