Ched Evans has all the ingredients to become a top player, reckons fellow Welshman Gary Speed who should know a thing or two about what it takes.

Blades coach Speed has played with and against this country has to offer over the best part of two decades and insists that the youngster can go a long way in the game:

"He did very well here against Peterborough and was only left out after that because of a change in our system for away games.

"We do a lot of work with him in training because he is only 20 years old, is a great lad and wants to do well.

"He is first onto the training pitch and the last off and usually we have to drag him away from it, he is so keen."

"Three goals in his Blades career so far might not have set the world on fire in some fans eyes, but the most important thing for him is what his team-mates think of him and how he doing at this stage of his career.

"He hasn't had many starts anywhere yet - other than for Wales where his goalscoring record is very good - and he is very much learning his trade."

And whilst not wanting to heap pressure on Evans' shoulders Speed is adamant that whilst the striker is not yet the finished article there are similarities already with Alan Shearer with whom Speed played with at Newcastle:

"He reminds me of him in the way he runs and holds the ball up. And he hits the ball harder than anyone I have ever seen - when he hits them in training the lads get out of the way.

"Alan was a goalscorer and against Palace Ched was more dynamic and running into the box like Shearer would have done. We play high energy but sometimes he forgets and we are on at him all the time about it.

"He has all the attributes to be a top player and if he retains his willingness to work and learn he can go as high as he wants in the game."