SOMETIMES it’s easy to forget that Jack Harrison is not a Leeds United player.

The Manchester City loanee has been one of the men at the heart of Marcelo Bielsa’s revolution at Elland Road.

Now in his third season with the Whites with 121 appearances to his name, Harrison helped state his case for making the cross-Pennine switch from his parent club permanent with an influential performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Premiership bottom club Sheffield United.

He tapped in the 12th-minute opener and five minutes after half-time provided the perfect cross which Phil Jagielka diverted into his own net for the winner.

The 24-year-old Harrison is by no means the finished article but his goal took his tally to seven this season. While that’s not in the league of the late Peter Lorimer, whose passing was acknowledged before the game, it’s none too shabby for a wide player.

Harrison bounced back with the help of a sports psychologist after dip in form in February saw him temporarily lose his starting place to Helder Costa.

“It is a change of perspective. When you go through a little rough patch you have to try a few alternative solutions. I’d recommend it to anyone,” he said.

His latest goal was probably the easiest in his spell at LS11 and just reward for a blistering opening by Leeds. Slick work down the right enabled Raphinha to motor into the box and pick out Harrison at the back post.

Only some excellent saves by Aaron Ramsdale and some wayward Leeds finishing kept the Blades in it as they could not live with Leeds’ pressing and high tempo. The Whites were so dominant that they let sloppiness creep into their play as the interval approached and the visitors equalised in the second minute of added on time.

Oli McBurnie’s shot deflected into the path of Ben Osborn who forced the ball over the line with Sheffield’s only shot on target.

Leeds resumed in top gear and soon got their noses in front again. Tyler Roberts, benefitting from an extended run in the team, swept a fine pass out to Harrison whose immaculate first touch and perfect cross was turned in at full stretch by the veteran Jagielka.

More opportunities came, and went, Leeds’ way but despite 23 efforts on goal could not increase their lead which led to an uncomfortable last ten minutes.

Interim manager Paul Heckinbottom, who spent four months in charge as Bielsa’s predecessor at Leeds, changed to a more attacking formation as the Blades desperately pushed for an equaliser. However, it was a familiar tale as despite keeping in games they lacked precision at crucial times and suffered their 24th Premiership loss of the season – 16 of those losses being by one goal.

The match also saw the first concussion substitution at Elland Road, a groggy George Baldock taken off ten minutes after receiving a head injury in a reckless challenge on Roberts.

The win lifted Leeds to 42 points. Only one club, West Ham in 2003, has been relegated with such a high tally, but Bielsa, perhaps mindful that Leeds face Liverpool and both Manchester clubs this month, is taking nothing for granted.

“I keep on hearing about the effect of the 40 points but I am still not convinced that it is enough, with there still being 24 points to play for,” he said.

“For a definitive evaluation of how we have done, we have to play these remaining eight games. The important thing is how the remaining eight games play out, to see the final points total that we make and that will be the best moment to make a definitive analysis.”

The first of those games is at Manchester City on Saturday (12.30pm) where Harrison won’t be available to play the champions-elect under the terms of his loan.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Alioski, Phillips, Dallas (Koch 90+2), Roberts (Klich 81), Harrison, Raphinha, Bamford (Rodrigo 65). Subs (not used): Casilla, Poveda, Costa, Hernandez, Struijk, Shackleton. Caution: Rodrigo

Sheff United: Ramsdale, Baldock (Ampadu 45), Jagielka, Stevens, Norwood (Burke 65), Fleck, Lundstram, Bogle (Brewster 73), Osborn, McGoldrick, McBurnie (Egan 77). Subs (not used): Foderingham, Mousset, Lowe, Bryan, Ndiaye. Cautions: Lundstram, McGoldrick

Ref: Graham Scott Att: Behind closed doors