Promise in the middle but Albion could do with finding a Quinn

GARY Bowyer highlighted an issue when he pointed out on Saturday that, apart from Jake Beesley being 28, the rest of the Burton Albion team were 25 or under.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Fans are not often forgiving about a player's age. If he is in the team, he is expected to deliver, it's as simple as that and there is certainly something in the old adage that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

But there is also a lot to be said for having a couple of wise old heads in the side and, right now, the Brewers do not have them available.

In recent seasons, they always had John Brayford to turn to and, of course, last season, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was an inspiration, involved off the pitch when he was not fit just as much as his nous helped on the pitch when he was.

Midfield, though, is an area where a bit of experience is particularly useful and, at the moment, what the Brewers have in that area is youthful promise.

When they get it right, they are exciting to watch. But Charlie Webster is 21, Kegs Chauke is 22 and JJ McKiernan 23.

Chauke is getting better and better as the holding midfielder whose ceaseless work allows Webster and McKiernan the licence to attack but it is a fragile combination, highlighted now by Chauke's injury.

Quite simply, who replaces him in his role?

There is a lot of goodwill among supporters for Ciaran Gilligan because he is the only player in the squad to have come right through all of Burton's age groups.

But the harsh truth is that, approaching five years since his first team debut, Gilligan has not established himself as a regular in the team, partly because he has struggled with niggling injuries and partly because, when he is fit, there has usually been someone ahead of him in the pecking order for selection.

In those five years, he has only 60 League appearances.