SHEFFIELD United manager Neil Warnock believes Jon Stead will prove to be "the best value striker in the transfer window".

Warnock completed his second signing in three days with the capture of Town old boy Stead from Sunderland for £750,000, with an extra £500,000 paid if the Blades stay in the Premiership.

Despite a paltry scoring record of just 13 goals in 104 appearances since he left Town to join Blackburn for £1.25m in February 2004, Warnock firmly believes in a player he has long coveted.

"I know there will be critics, but value for money and his age (23) mean it's a great signing for me," said Warnock.

"I've told him not to worry about expectations because he is not a £4m or £5m player.

"He's played in the Premiership, which is good, and had two spells in which he witnessed both sides of the coin.

"He had a poor spell with Sunderland, but he had a fantastic time at Blackburn when he kept them up almost single handedly.

"In terms of work ethic, he is excellent. The fans will see someone who will give blood for the club, and I think they'll take to him."

Stead, who scored 18 times for Town and chalked up three goals in 17 games on loan to Derby this season, knows in signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with United, it is another shot at the big time.

"It's a fantastic move for me after coming out of the blue over the last couple of days," said Stead, who cost Sunderland £1.8m in the 2005 close-season and had also interested Cardiff.

"It's something I could only have dreamed of, but I'm now looking forward to the challenge after a very difficult time recently.

"There aren't many positives to come out of the last 18 months, but now is the time to put that to bed and look forward to a good career here.

"But I'm under no illusions because I've had disappointing times in the Premiership, so I need to scratch them off the record and start performing again.

"After my loan spell at Derby and getting some games under my belt over the past few months, this move has come at the perfect time for me."