Sheffield United play-off chances hinge on one crucial factor but hope is on the horizon

Sheffield United's play-off hopes now look like they hinge on one crucial factor. Billy Sharp.

The striker's absence has been a real blow for the Blades and has come at the worst time. Having stormed up the table and into the play-off picture, not only was Sharp's goals so influential, but so too was his partnership with Morgan Gibbs-White.

The pair were forming a fruitful understanding that was more than laying the foundations for a top six finish.

As well as Sharp's 14 goals, he had also chipped in with seven assists, the same amount as Gibbs-White has provided, who has also found the net 10 times.

They have assisted each other for eight of those goals, with Sharp providing the ball for Gibbs-White three times and Gibbs-White retuning the compliment on five occasions.

When taking into account their goals and assists, the pair's direct goal involvements have contributed 30 of their team's total tally of 55. Indeed, the fact that Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge are next in the scoring charts with just four is an example of just how influential Sharp and Gibbs-White have been.

Sharp's absence is clear for all to see not just on paper but yesterday's 1-1 draw again highlighted how much they lacked his goalscoring prowess. Sheffield United dominated the match for 50 minutes but did not possess that ruthless streak in front of goal that they needed to put the game beyond their opponents.

There were a couple of chances that went begging inside the area that Sharp, watching from afar, would have snaffled up for sure. Since his hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Barnsley prior to the international break, United have won just once. They have also scored just three in five and their form is stumbling.

Three wins in 11 and six