Central role is just the job for Brayford
Versatile midfielder and forward Hesketh, who the Brewers are keen to keep past January, is on loan from Southampton.
The Saints have named former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager following Mark Hughes’ sacking on Monday.
So does Clough think a new man in charge at St Mary’s will have an impact on their hopes of retaining Hesketh?
“I don’t think so, I think they will have a big enough squad that Jake will be outside that,” he added.
“We just hope Southampton can see the benefit of what is happening here for him.
“He’s playing regularly for the first time in two years, I think he’s enjoying it and I think another few months with us would do him good.
“All of a sudden then he has got 30 or 40 games under his belt in a season and he’ll be in a different position in the summer than he has been in the last couple.” JOHN Brayford is relishing the responsibility at the heart of Burton Albion’s defence.
Brayford began the season at right-back for the Brewers but he has started their last six League One matches alongside Kyle McFadzean at centre-half, while Ben Turner has been sidelined by a calf injury.
It is a position the versatile defender has taken up throughout his three spells as a Burton player, stretching back to his appearances in the Conference between 2006 and 2008.
But Albion’s attacking ambition and willingness to play from the back this season has given the role an extra dimension for the 30-year-old.
“I love playing there, when I first started coming through I was playing there,” he said ahead of Saturday’s League One clash with Shrewsbury Town at the Pirelli Stadium.
“People say it’s a new position but I’ve probably played there quite a lot throughout my career, dropping in through injury or suspension, or having a run of games there.
“I really enjoy the responsibility of playing there, especially the way we are playing.
“We are trying to play out from the back, so I really enjoy playing the position.”
Brewers boss Nigel Clough has criticised his team for making too many costly mistakes this season, especially in defensive areas.
Brayford, who lost possession in the build-up to Charlton Athletic’s equaliser in last week’s 2-1 defeat to the Addicks, knows those moments must be cut out - but that it can be a result of their new approach. “We’ve been in the transition period from the Championship, battling against those sorts of teams, and we’ve only been playing this style for a couple of months really,” he added.
“It’s just trying to get everybody working and knowing where players are and their position on the field.
“It’s not an overnight thing, it’s a work in progress.
“But we’ve seen some games, like the Walsall game, where we’ve played magnificently at times.
“There’s other games, like the Charlton game, where I’ve made a mistake from the back.
“Things like that happen, it’s just about cutting it down to a minimum.”
People say it’s a new position but I’ve probably played there quite a lot throughout my career
John Brayford