Scott Parker has Burnley FC go-to in Championship title race that simply nobody saw coming | OneFootball

The Clarets' hidden weapon has been sensational next week 🟣

Burnley's chances of an immediate return to Premier League football were boosted incredibly over the weekend after their win over Norwich City was coupled with Sheffield United's late, shock loss to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday lunchtime - and now the Clarets' sights will be on the title in what appears to be a straight shoot-out with Leeds United.

The Clarets raced into a 2-0 lead against Norwich thanks to Hannibal Mejbri's first goal of the season, which was quickly followed up by Jaidon Anthony's deflected strike - and although Jack Stacey halved the deficit, the east Lancashire outfit held on to record a vital three points.

With promotion rivals Sheffield United's bid taking a huge hit against basement boys Plymouth just hours later, it now seems that Scott Parker will battle it out with Leeds United for the main gong.

But whilst the majority of Leeds and Burnley's key players are known, one of the Clarets' rising stars in the past few games has burst out of nowhere in Lucas Pires - and he'll look to blossom further to bring home the title for the Turf Moor outfit.

How Lucas Pires has become Scott Parker's underrated weapon for Burnley this season

Pires began the campaign in flying fashion, notching two assists on his debut against Luton Town in what looked to be a tough opening game for Burnley as they ran riot in a 4-1 win at Kenilworth Road.

Although he began Burnley's first nine games as an ever-present, the emergence of Bashir Humphreys saw Pires limited to few appearances - and as Burnley's run of tepid draws continued, Pires only played three games in 12 through the festive period to mid-January.

Humphreys' injury saw him thrust back into the team as a first-choice, which Burnley fans were admittedly wary of having sat behind Sheffield United in the Championship table at the time - and with Pires being somewhat weak in comparison to Burnley's watertight defence when it came to keeping goals out, doubts were raised.

But the Brazilian has been superb since coming back into the fold, and has arguably been Burnley's best defender in that time.

The Clarets have only conceded four goals in nine games since his return, which is somewhat expected given that it's the business end of the season against teams who are fighting for different goals, such as conceding against relegation-threatened Cardiff City - but it's Pires' talents going forward that have given Burnley a new lease of life.

Lucas Pires' attacking intent could be the key to the title for Burnley

The former Cadiz defender has really come into his own going forward, and perhaps at this stage in the campaign, that has come at just the right time.

The Clarets have scored 18 goals in nine games with Pires in the side, taking 23 points from 27 in that time - and Pires being more attack-minded than Humphreys has kept Burnley on the front foot.

Maxime Esteve, CJ Egan-Riley and James Trafford have continued to be solid, but Pires offers dynamism - and that is something that Sheffield United haven't shown with just one goal and no points in their last three games.

The onus will now be on Parker's side to battle Leeds in the title race, and Pires being their unexpected weapon could be just the tonic - especially when it comes to putting other sides to the sword.

Should he see the campaign out, his attacking excellence against sides who have little to play for in Watford and Queens Park Rangers could really come to the fore to signify Parker's utilisation of his secret weapon to land a third-consecutive title for the Clarets.