Graham Potter has admitted he will tell Swansea City to do all they can to hang onto rising star Daniel James.
The 21-year-old came off the bench at half-time to help inspire the Swans to a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Sheffield United at the Liberty Stadium.
Oli McBurnie’s 65th minute goal proved decisive, but so was the contribution of James, who is reported to be a target for Leeds United.
Bids of anywhere between £5m and £20m have been rumoured but when asked to put a value on James, the Swans manager declined, agreeing only to the suggestion that he would be loath to see the Wales youngster allowed to leave.
“He’s part of what we’re trying to do and part of the long term picture so I’m enjoying working with him,” said Potter.
“He’s a young player who can play in all of the attacking positions. He played centrally today, but I know he’s also a winger.
“But he’s a threat running at centre-backs. He’s come through the academy and I think he’s enjoying his football here.”
The major down side for Potter – who side are back in the top 10 – was a broken metatarsal for Joe Rodon that will sideline the young centre-back for six weeks.
Potter added: “For the second half I just asked them to play better. I thought we could have played better in the first half.
“In fairness the players did, in the second half I thought we were really good.
“We managed to stretch the game a bit and Oli played a little deeper so we had more combinations there and a threat in behind.
“But, again, you have to survive a little bit as they are pumping balls into the box as you expect and they are a good team.
“We are delighted with a 1-0 win and it shows a lot of the character of the players and I am very happy.”
McBurnie had missed two games with a bug, but looked in rude health when he grabbed his 11th goal of the season.
Potter had left Wilfried Bony out of his squad amid transfer interest in the striker from Turkey and Qatar.
The manager’s decision to replace Wayne Routledge with youngster Dan James at the break was down to injury but the effect was immediate.
The Wales starlet, a target for others as well as Leeds, troubled Sheffield with his pace and directness and it was now the home side who looked more likely to go ahead.
That breakthrough duly came in the 65th minute, although it arrived from the opposite flank and the supply of Nathan Dyer.
The winger played a precise one-two with van der Hoorn and delivered a perfect cross which McBurnie swept into the net.
The Blades were now being over-run down both channels and when James sparked another attack it needed a superb save from Dean Henderson to deny Celina.
The rebound fell to James whose 20 yard drive produced an even better stop from Henderson who tipped the ball away at full stretch.
