Head coach Neil Harris has hailed the importance of Shayne Lavery to Cambridge United after his match-winning exploits away at Barnsley this afternoon.

The popular striker has had to settle for appearances off the bench this season as Harris and the club’s medical staff manage his struggles with hamstring injuries over recent seasons.

And the Northern Irishman has thrived in that role, capped by his second-half impact at Oakwell today. Coming on with his side 1-0 at the break, Lavery set up the equalising goal for Ben Knight before going on to score the winner himself in stoppage time.

Harris said: “We know where Lavs is at, and I’m just reminding everybody that’s what he is for us and this football club. He’s an impact (player), and he’s very, very good at it.

“We’ve got to try and keep him fit for as long as possible, so no-one get excited about Lavs starting the next two home games (against Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle) because it’s not going to happen.

“He’s so important with the lift that he gives everybody and the infectious nature that he plays with.

“But also, what a very, very good player he is, and that’s what we saw in the second half. He’s a centre-forward that understands the game, that reads the game and that moves in the right direction to the ball at the right moment. And he was Johnny on the spot today, he’s got the ability to score out of nothing.

“I’m very pleased with him, and I can’t talk more glowingly about him than that.”

Lavery has now scored 20 goals in a Cambridge shirt following his arrival from Blackpool in the summer of 2024.