Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is confident Oli McBurnie will rediscover his scoring touch.
The Scotland international, a club-record signing for the Blades when he moved to Bramall Lane from Swansea in the summer of 2019, scored six times during his maiden top-flight season but has struggled to find the back of the net during this campaign.
The 24-year-old broke his duck and lifted a huge weight from his shoulders with the Blades' only goal in their 2-1 home defeat by Leicester last weekend and Wilder explained how he was impressed by McBurnie's character through his barren spell.
“I believe in him. You've got to scrap your way out of it. The sun is not shining at the moment and that's when you get judged, and he's battling his way through it," said the Blades boss, whose side face Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday.
“He kept putting himself into the right positions and showing that desire to get into the right positions even though he knew there was a spotlight on him.
“That, for me, tells you something about his bravery and his character. It tells you that he cares and what type of person he is.
“He has come under the spotlight with us and when he's been away with the national team, he always comes under the spotlight.
“But there's big pressure on all of us, especially at the top of the pitch. People talk about xGs (expected goals statistics) and even through my eyes we should have scored more. That's the pressure the players at the top of the pitch have to handle.
“It was a man's performance from Oli (against Leicester). Everybody was delighted he got his goal. He knows he should have had more this season – as we all should have – but I believe in him and the group.
“He brings more to the team than goals and it was his all-round performance on Sunday that I thought was excellent."
