'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.
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Hide AdSpeaking 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’.
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Hide Ad"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.