Paul Heckingbottom given play-off confidence but key to Sheffield United success is not obvious

The thought of entering the play-offs without any senior strikers or a recognised number 9 might fill some managers with dread. But not Paul Heckingbottom.

He has lost count how many times he has had to change the dynamic of his Sheffield United team or find a new way of winning as a result of injuries, particularly to his forward department. The latest combination is Iliman Ndiaye and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Although both are recognised more as number 10s they have more than filled the void left by the loss of captain and this season's golden boot winner Billy Sharp. Either one or both have been on the scoresheet in the four games since being thrown together in the 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

Although Gibbs-White scored a spectacular equaliser on that occasion, what was evident at Ashton Gate was how the lack of a striker's instinct saw a number of opportunities go begging inside the area. However, that has not been the case in recent matches.

Gibbs-White crossed for Ndiaye to head home the winner against Cardiff, before the Frenchman pounced from close range to start the comeback at QPR.

Their relationship with Sander Berge yesterday in a three-pronged attack was even more impressive. All three were on the scoresheet and all three got an assist, with two of the goals coming as a direct result of a combination between the three.

That, as Heckingbottom explains, has more than helped his confidence ahead of two crucial matches against Nottingham Forest in the play-offs.

"It does," he told Yorkshire Live. "I don't want to say too much and give too much away but obviously with the players that we have in the team, because we don't have as many options from the bench, and this is not me taking anything away from Jebbo [Daniel