Sheffield United sit second in the EFL Championship table and are aiming to get promoted to the Premier League after spending their second consecutive season in the Championship. Last season, they finished fifth but failed to qualify through the playoff rounds. Things appear to be different this season, thanks to their Scottish striker Oliver McBurnie. He is one of the joint top goal scorers in the division, and these goals have helped Sheffield United rise up the league table. We now look at some of the stats of the player that show how McBurnie is the perfect fit to lead the Blades back to the Premier League.
Oliver McBurnie has appeared in 17 matches for the Blades this season, including 12 starts. He has managed to score nine goals and provide an assist. McBurnie has only scored seven goals in the last three seasons.
Improvement in front of the goal
Oliver McBurnie has been a threat to the opposition’s goal. With a high average of 3.97 shots per 90 minutes, the forward has attempted 51 shots and has a high accuracy rate of 54.9%. The above viz depicts the player’s shot map from this season. By looking at it, we can observe that 48 shots have been attempted from inside the penalty box, and seven have been converted. From outside the box, McBurnie has managed to score two goals from three shot attempts. He likes to stay in the centre, and his tall figure allows him to reach the ball before the defender attempts to clear it. The average number of touches inside the penalty box for the forward is 6.07 per 90 minutes.
Oliver McBurnie’s return to the EFL Championship didn’t go the way that he wanted. The forward appeared in 28 matches and started nine. He was unable to score a goal in the 2021/22 season. The shot average was 1.95 per 90 minutes, and the accuracy rate was low at 28%. The positions that he took inside the penalty box were a bit similar to this season, but the conversion rate was very low. The touches inside the penalty box were also low, at 4.14 per 90 minutes.
Oliver McBurnie’s stats have been impressive in the Championship this season. The above viz shows the benchmarking of shots taken per 90 minutes by a striker. The 26-year-old leads the chart for the most shot attempts per 90 minutes. The average is double this season, and this is one of the main reasons behind the Blades’ success.
Can the striker earn a promotion for his team?
Oliver McBurnie will play a key role in Sheffield United’s run for promotion. The above pizza chart compares his stats with those of the other centre-forwards in the league. As previously stated, he has the best shots per 90 minutes record among strikers. Adding to this, the player has taken the most number of touches inside the opposition’s penalty box. His positioning has helped him win aerial duels in crucial areas. The only area where the player needs to improve a bit is in linking plays with the other players.
The 26-year-old Scottish international has been one of the best strikers in the EFL Championship. His recent form has earned the interest of some of the clubs but he is unlikely to leave after the World Cup. The Blades will be hoping that their big investment scores more goals and helps his side earn promotion back to the Premier League.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
