Lys Mousset bagged a classy brace in Sheffield United's 3-2 win at Barnsley last time out and demonstrated his quality at the level.

The Frenchman has been plagued by injuries ever since signing from Bournemouth in the summer of 2019 and will not want to be plying his trade in the second tier for more than one season.

Slavisa Jokanovic has a lot to choose from at the top of the pitch for United but has made it clear that Mousset is crucial to his plans moving forward.

The Serbian manager explained how the club are looking to utilise the inconsistent availability of Mousset as the season progresses when he spoke to The Yorkshire Post.

He said: "We believe he has the quality. Sometimes we want to manage him but it’s better to prepare him to play the games.

"It’s not easy for him, it’s not easy for us but it’s part of the job."

The comments from Jokanovic suggest that the 25-year-old will not be pushed too hard on the training ground to ensure he is raring to go at the weekends.

Oliver McBurnie returned to the side at Oakwell and Billy Sharp has been a shining light of the Blades' stuttering start to the season so United have the squad to cope with the Frenchman drifting in and out of the team.

The Verdict

Mousset is very mobile up top and in that can be very difficult for defenders to pick up.

Two sides of his game were there for all to see in the brace at Oakwell, the first coming when he drifted into the left channel to receive possession and cut in onto his right foot to arrow into the bottom right corner. The second a darting run to the edge of the six yard to tap in an excellent Ben Osborn cross.

The Blades are still playing catch-up at the start of the campaign but know that a win at home to Blackpool on Saturday could see them break into the top six for the first time.