Sheffield United boss Slavisa Jokanovic has admitted to Yorkshire Live that he has struggled to fit Oli McBurnie into his starting eleven this season.
The 25-year-old striker has found himself in and out of the team at Bramall Lane since the arrival of the Serbian manager and has largely failed to take the opportunities that have come his way.
However the former Swansea City frontman did find the net for his side earlier this week as he scored against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, thus showing his manager what he has to offer in the final third when provided with the right service.
Speaking about McBurnie's situation at Bramall Lane, Jokanovic was quick to make the following admission:
"I have not been able to find the space in games before, but the season is so long and the competition is tough with a lot of games and he will 100% be part of it."
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The goal in the cup on Tuesday was McBurnie's first strike of the season and he will undoubtedly be hoping to find the back of the net on a more consistent basis from this point onwards.
McBurnie is currently under contract with the Steel City side until the summer of 2023.
The Verdict
The striker offers a great focal point when he does start for the Blades and for that reason it would be fair to assume that he will start most weeks under Jokanovic.
He needs to improve his goal scoring as he hasn't hit the target as much as he would've liked over the past few seasons, however the goals will flow more if he keeps doing the right things.
No one can fault his work rate when he is in and out of possession and that part of his game will certainly take him a long way.
The goal he scored on Tuesday will certainly do his confidence the world of good as the Blades divert their attentions back to the league.