Why midfield enforcer Vinicius Souza gives Sheff Utd renewed hope

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be influential in Matchweek 25.

Player analysis: Vinicius Souza (Sheff Utd)

If Sheffield United are to produce a "Great Escape" this season, they will need midfield enforcer Vinicius Souza to stay fit and available for the final 14 matches, starting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

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Under the radar, their 24-year-old Brazilian has been a shining light throughout a difficult campaign at Bramall Lane.

Last weekend he delivered one of the most influential individual performances of the Premier League season so far, inspiring a vital 3-1 success at Luton Town.

Midfield domination

Souza was truly exceptional against Luton.

He dominated the midfield battle winning 15 of 18 duels, and eight of nine aerial duels too, in a magnificently abrasive showcase of his ball-winning qualities.

Sheff Utd spent most of the match out of possession with the Hatters enjoying a 75 per cent share of the ball.

Club News Big performance, says boss External Link

Big performance, says boss

To win it back, the Blades relied heavily on Vinicius Souza - and he did not disappoint.

In addition to those duel successes, Vinicius Souza made six tackles, seven clearances, eight ball recoveries and a block.

He was hugely forceful inside his own half and delivered a masterclass in how to disrupt the opposition as a defensive midfielder.

The way Souza sprinted back to produce this clean hook tackle (below) on Tahith Chong typified his contribution.

In a recent 5-2 FA Cup home defeat to Sunday's opponents, the Brazilian was rested, only used as a second-half substitute.

Brighton played through the Sheff Utd midfield at will in that tie, but with Vinicius Souza protecting their defence, they may find it tougher to slice through this time.

Souza also scored his first goal for Sheff Utd in last weekend's win at Kenilworth Road.

He started the move by making a terrific tackle on Ross Barkley inside his own half, catching the Hatters midfielder in possession.

From there he continued his run, before Ben Osborn found him unmarked inside the box later on in that transitional move.

Drilling a superb right-footed strike into the far corner, manager Chris Wilder may well be demanding more of Souza in an attacking capacity moving forward.

This goal proved he is capable of hurting opponents inside the final third.

Top tackler

As reflected in the table below, Vinicius Souza is by some distance the Blades' best and most effective ball winner.

Making more than double the number of tackles than any team-mate, and a prolific duel winner too, they would be nowhere near as competitive in the middle third without him.

Vinicius Souza tackles/duels won comparison

In Premier League terms he is right up there among the best when it comes to tackles and winning duels too.

Vinicius Souza is second only to Fulham’s Joao Palhinha for tackles made, but no one has come out on top in more than Sheff Utd's midfielder.

He also ranks third for duels won.

Vinicius Souza tackles/duels PL rank 2023/24

Wilder knows that Brighton will seek to play through the thirds, so he will demand that Vinicius Souza replicates the muscle, endeavour and intelligence he showed at Luton.

If he can break up play on a consistent basis, it will give the bottom-placed side a much-needed platform to cause the visitors problems of their own from turnovers.

Vinicius Souza cannot do it alone, but the midfielder gives Sheff Utd hope of more positive results to come.

Relegation battle

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
17	Nott'm Forest NFO	38	-18	32
18	Luton LUT	38	-33	26
19	Burnley BUR	38	-37	24
20	Sheffield Utd SHU	38	-69	16

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