GOALS will always be the staple diet for any striker worth his salt. And Bramall-Lane bound Ade Akinbiyi has gorged himself ever since he arrived at Burnley 11 months ago.

The mark of a real goalscorer is how many times he comes up with that crucial strike that wins a game, or earns a precious point when all looks lost. And throughout the past year, Akinbiyi's growing importance to the Clarets cause has been beyond question.

Five times in total the 31-year-old's goals have single-handedly won tight games, while his crucial last minute strike against Carlisle United in the Carling Cup, and a subsequent strike against Barnsley in round two, helped set up a lucrative trip to Aston Villa.

This season alone, his 14 goals have amassed exactly the same number of points for Steve Cotterill's side. Take those points away from the 39 earned and the Clarets would find themselves deep in the relegation mire in 23rd place - just three points better off than rock-bottom Crewe!

How far the £600,000 signing has come from that infamous debut against Sunderland last March, when he received his marching orders just 180 seconds into his debut for an out-of-character scuffle with Sunderland's George McCartney.

A three-match ban followed before the striker returned for a full debut, ironically at Sheffield United, with a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat.

As Burnley free-wheeled towards the summer in 14th place, safe from relegation but with the top six teams out of sight, Akinbiyi began to show his true colours with a first goal at Turf Moor in the 1-1 draw with Brighton and both goals in the 2-0 victory over QPR three days later.

Akinbiyi was straight onto the scoresheet in the first home game of this season, albeit another consolation in the 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United as boss Neil Warnock stood and admired. And despite the fact Akinbiyi scored six goals in the opening eight games, his first five league goals indirectly earned the Clarets just one point thanks to the opening goal in a 2-2 draw with Derby County.

Elsewhere, two late goals came in the 4-0 thrashing of Coventry, then a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat at Reading .

An eight game barren streak followed in the league before Akinbiyi's real influence began to exert itself on the Clarets rise up the Championship table.

He silenced baying Leicester fans with the only goal at the Walkers Stadium and then repeated the trick with a sublime winner in the live, televised game against Hull City.

Now Akinbiyi was warming to the task and a stunning hat-trick at Luton Town in November helped earn him the PFA Fans' player of the month award. And as Burnley prepare for life without the talisman, irony dictates that his last goal for the club made it a Boxing Day to remember against Stoke City - the club Cotterill prised him from for a cut-price £600,000.

There were many who questioned that deal under a year ago

The huge profit Burnley will make 12 months on tells it's own story.