According to the rumour mill, we chased long and hard for Billy Sharp last summer and again in the January transfer window, so why is one of the hampionship's top scorer's not even getting a look in.

Even though he missed a big chunk of the opening quarter of this season after breaking his leg on the opening day of the season at Brighton Billy Sharp was one of the divisions top scorers when he joined Saints at the end of the january transfer window having netted 10 goals in 20 league appearances for Doncaster.

Of course football is about grasping the opportunity when it arises but in his opening three games for Saints, Sharp had notched a goal and although he wasnt what we would term "Saints Fit" he was still no slouch, speaking of opportunity's Tadanari Lee grabbed his when it came and im sure that even Sharp himself would not complain about the Japanese striker being ahead of him in the pecking order, but he cant be too happy about who else has been preferred to him up front apart from Lee.

Sharp is considered one of the best strikers in the division, so why isnt he getting the chance to prove it ? that is the question being asked at the moment, when Lee was playing David Connolly was used before Sharp and in recent games both Guly and even Steve De Ridder have been used in forward roles whilst Sharp has sat on the bench.

But the truth is when he has come on Sharp hasnt played badly, on Saturday at Millwall he put in some good work to create a chance for lambert that forced a defender to bring him down for the first of our penalties, yet on Tuesday at Hull Guly was still preferred up front and De Ridder was preferred coming off the bench, in effect Sharp seems to be the sixth choice striker at the club at the moment, there is clearly some reason as to why he isnt getting game time.

Guly seems to be a favourite of the manager so it was no surprise he got the nod ahead of Sharp, however David Connolly is a diferent matter, here is a player whose form has been indifferent over recent months, since scoring at Leicester back in August, Connolly has only scored twice, I like Connolly as a player, but to be blunt using him as a sub ahead of Sharp against Watford and Barnsley seemed to make no sense, at 34 Connolly is past his best, Billy Sharp however is a man at the peak of his game, at least he was before he arrived at St Mary's. If Sharp isnt quite as fit or as sharp as Nigel Adkins would like him to be, then surely the time to get him back to those levels would have been extended time against both Watford & Barnsley when the game was well won, let him go out and fill his boots so to speak, as we have seen earlier this season and last a confident Billy Sharp scores goals.

Using De Ridder up front against Hull seemed to make no sense at all and is further proof that perhaps there is something that you cant quite put your finger on about the signing of Billy Sharp and his subsequent lack of game time on the pitch, why spend big money on one of the divisions top scorers only to leave him on the bench, he has been at SMS for seven weeks he should be fit enough by now.

Hopefully Sharp will get a look in on Saturday against Doncaster, initial signs are that both Tadanari Lee and Guly are both doubtful, if Sharp doesnt get the nod to start ahead of Connolly and De Ridder up front then there is something amiss somewhere

Photo: Action Images

CovSaint added 09:23 - Mar 23 If it ain't broke, don't fix it - seems a good way to look at it. Sharp is obviously a talent, given that other loftier Championship teams 'with the means' were after him (ie Leicester City) and his goal scoring record speaks for itself - even though he's yet to continue that with us to any great degree. I think his signing is valid however, and with our premiership aspirations it makes sense to have the likes of Sharp in the squad. We're also into the home straights of the season now, and it's good to know that he is available for selection should injuries start to impede our progress.

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AdkinsBabies added 10:34 - Mar 23 Nick did you not read my post. I have already answered that. We paid for him to add competition to the side, which he has done. "Im wondering why we would pay a substancial fee for a player, possibly well inside the top ten of transfer fees paid and obviously alongside that he is probably one of if not the top earner in the club, yet we dont seem to be using him much, even when the situation allows it, ie winning games easily, surely that is time to let him get on get a feel for the team and the way it plays and to get confidence in front of goal, for when we do need him"..... He has featured in 7 games already. He has been given the chance, which he has not taken yet. Maybe another chance will come tomorrow. No point playing someone, just because we paid a big fee for him (whether it be a sub or as a start), which is what you seem to be advocating. As I said before. It's a non-story.

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CovSaint added 11:42 - Mar 23 ...Think Torres at Chelsea...
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