Webster: We saw benefits from intense pre-season versus Stags

THERE did not look to be much wrong with Charlie Webster's game on Saturday against Mansfield Town but the learning never stops as a young footballer making your way in the game.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Webster was a deserved man of the match in the League One season opener after scoring two superb goals to point the Brewers towards their first opening day win for four years.

But when he was asked to talk about it afterwards, the theme soon turned to how hard he has been working on his game in the summer - particularly on his shooting and his defensive work.

It is easy to forget that he is only 21 and, before joining the Brewers, his senior experience amounted to two starts in 13 appearances for Heerenveen in Holland and a few England age group caps.

Nor did he hit the ground running last season, as a preseason injury delayed his first appearance until October.

Six goals thereafter went with two red cards as a reminder that there was still work to do.

The collective focus of the work he and the team has been doing has been on keeping the good things from last season going.

"That's massive," said Webster.

"The consistency we showed at the back end of last year, it’s all about building on that, preseason's all been about that - kicking off where we left off.

"It has been a tough, intense preseason that everyone's bought into.