He’s always in our thoughts, says Clough, but others have done well

NIGEL Clough says Ben Fox is “the first one in there” if any changes are made to the Burton Albion midfield.

The Brewers academy graduate came off the bench to replace the injured Scott Fraser after 55 minutes of Saturday’s League One clash against Bristol Rovers, going on to grab the the stoppage-time winner with his first League goal.

It capped an energetic effort from Fox, who began the season as Burton’s holding midfielder and has also featured in defence during the opening two months of the campaign.

He has been behind Stephen Quinn, Jamie Allen and Fraser for a starting role in midfield in recent weeks, Clough having named those players as the ones he needs to displace.

But the Albion manager says Fox is always pushing.

“We’ll see how the others go,” said Clough.

“He’s still not done enough, I don’t think, even with his goal, to unseat the others just yet.

“But if Scott Fraser continues to struggle, he’s the first one in there. That was the case today. Somebody said about it being an inspired substitution – it wasn’t, it was enforced.

“When somebody’s got an injury, Ben is one of the first ones we put on.

“If he’d have got one (a goal) at Port Vale in the Checkatrade Trophy, he might’ve started.

“He had 90 minutes to get one at Port Vale the other night and didn’t but he’s come on and done that.

“Foxy is always there or thereabouts in our thoughts.

“It’s not so much what’s he done, it’s more about the other three. They have played so well.”

Fox’s first senior goal for the Brewers proved a crucial one last season as they won 2-1 at Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup.

Fourteen months on, his first in the League was even more dramatic and provided another win.

“When it’s a winning goal in a 1-0 victory at home, in a much-needed victory, it’s even more special,” added Clough.

“Sometimes you can get your first goal and you’re 3-0 down, it makes it 3-1 or something like that.

“It’s much more special when it’s memorable like this and it actually means the three points.”