Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scored 15 goals while on loan at Charlton Athletic last season
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scored twice on his 22nd birthday as Sheffield United moved up to second in the Championship with victory over Luton Town.
The Crystal Palace loanee put the Blades in front from Anel Ahmedhodzic's lobbed pass after Luton failed to clear a corner - his first goal for the club.
And he doubled the lead after the break when he drove a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski and into the net.
Vinicius Souza hit the post as United went close to a third and Luton will return from the international break just above the relegation places following their fifth defeat in nine games.
United boss Chris Wilder rang the changes at Bramall Lane despite their win over Swansea City in midweek, with Rak-Sakyi and target man Kieffer Moore among six players restored to the starting line-up.
Luton’s Rob Edwards, by contrast, contented himself with including full-back Reuell Walters at the expense of forward Jacob Brown.
The Hatters had won on their previous two league visits to Bramall Lane but after an early Teden Mengi shot flew wide of the target, they found themselves behind when Rak-Sakyi burst between two defenders and fired into the corner.
United continued to dominate possession and Moore, Souza and Rak-Sakyi all tested Kaminski as they pressed for a second.
Luton were missing the physical presence of striker Carlton Morris, who is still recovering from a muscle strain, and did not manage a single on-target effort before the interval against a side who have only conceded three goals in the Championship this season.
Midfielder Jordan Clark finally forced keeper Michael Cooper into action soon after the restart but Rhian Brewster played in Rak-Sakyi at the other end and it was too easy for him to add the second as Walters failed to close him down.
There was to be no hat-trick as he was replaced by Andre Brooks after 66 minutes, while Luton made four changes to try to retrieve the situation before Clark tried a long-range effort, which was again saved by Cooper.
Souza, who scored against Luton at Kenilworth Road last season, almost did so again as his shot thumped the woodwork, and United were able to cruise through the final minutes to secure their sixth win of the campaign, leaving them below leaders Sunderland on goal difference only.
Both teams were in the Premier League last season, but on this evidence only one of them will be challenging for a return to the top flight next May.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We need to be front foot, control the game, which we did, so I'd like to thank the supporters for their contribution because it was really big, energy-wise.
"There were a few people scratching their heads before the game and looking at the team selection but it's my job and the job of the coaches to make sure we get that right from a physical and tactical point of view.
"The biggest thing is that the team, and the football club, gets results and seven out of nine (points) is a profitable week for us.
"There's no big-time players here, no arrogant ones, no stars of the show - the team is the star, the team is the main focus."
Luton Town boss Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We changed things to give us a bit more solidity but the way we conceded the two goals which ultimately cost us the game was really disappointing.
"The first one, it pops up on the edge of the box, we don't challenge, it landed, we don't challenge, (it's) indecisiveness, and before you know it, it's in the back of the net.
"The second one was different but again we were in decent shape, we had numbers there to deal with it but once it gets to Rak-Sakyi, it's a dangerous moment with a one v one in the box.
"It's on me, I've got to fix it. I'll try to give clarity, we'll work hard on and off the pitch to make sure we fix certain areas that we're not doing well at the moment."
