The 25-year-old moved to the Blades on Thursday, initially on loan but a permanent deal will be done when the transfer window opens in January.

Barnsley agreed a fee of £200,000 for Howard, and a further £300,000 will be paid when the transfer is finalized – the two clubs have also agreed that the player will not play against Barnsley during the period of his loan.

Howard signed for the Tykes on a free transfer from Swindon in 2005 and scored 27 goals in 121 appearances for the club.

Barnsley were quick to dismiss rumours of a rift with manager Simon Davey as the cause for Howard's move to pastures new.

A club statement said: "There has been speculation that the manager has had a fall-out with Brian. This is simply untrue.

"Simon has always had the highest regard for Brian as a player and a captain and has played him in every match this season until it was confirmed by the player directly that he was irrevocably committed to moving on.

"Brian Howard has been an outstanding player for Barnsley over recent years and we wish him well for the future."

While one Tyke has played his last game for the club, another made his first in a record-breaking debut.

Fifteen-year-old striker Reuben Noble-Lazarus had a night to remember on Wednesday, becoming the youngest ever player to play in the Football League.

The youngster, aged 15 years and 45 days, came off the bench for the last five minutes of Barnsley's 3-0 defeat to Ipswich at Portman Road on Tuesday night, to beat the existing record by 113 days.

He beat the record set in 1929 by Bradford Park Avenue's Albert Geldard and equalled in 1951 by Ken Roberts of Wrexham. Both were aged 15 years and 158 days.

But Tykes boss Davey insisted Noble-Lazarus, who was due back at school in Huddersfield on Wednesday morning, would be kept grounded.

"He is a confident lad but he is still only 15. He is a talent and we need to nurture him in the right way," he said.

"We need to look after him – he has got to be dipped in and perhaps dipped back out.

"We've arranged with his school that we can get him out for two days a week so he can train with us.

"I have kept an eye on him over the last two years and have tried to integrate him as quickly as I could into the first team."

Davey revealed that the fast-paced Noble-Lazarus was too young to be paid and joked he would receive a ham sandwich and a piece of pizza for his efforts.