So many changes but there is lots of potential

JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink will know he has taken a gamble in making so many changes to the Burton Albion squad.

There is no doubt at all that the players he has signed are talented, the younger ones oozing with potential.

Particularly in the case of the younger ones, they had all impressed at the clubs they have appeared for most recently.

They all have their own reasons for wanting to prove their worth and, if they do, the Brewers are in a winwin situation.

If the permanent signings succeed, they either go on to become stalwarts for Burton for some years to come, or, if they prove to be absolutely outstanding, big clubs will come running with their cheque books and the club can make a profit.

It is a notable change of direction for Burton to hand out as many as three two-and-half-year contracts.

You could argue they might make a player feel too comfortable – but you could equally argue they make a player feel settled.

Nigel Clough used to be more inclined to deal in one-year contracts, which he felt kept a player on his toes. Do well and there would be another contract waiting. But that was more in line with his thinking back in the Conference days.

Supporters like to see the longer contracts handed out. They tend to be suspicious of loan players, assuming that they will not be as invested in the club’s success as a permanent player.

It’s not a view I subscribe to. I am more inclined to think a lazy player is a lazy player, whatever his terms of employment and, by the same token, a committed professional wants to win every time he goes on the pitch.

I also think the great majority of players are committed professionals, especially so in the lower leagues, where you cannot afford to be without a deal for long if you want to continue to pay the bills.

Looking at Burton’s loan players, midfielder Sean Clare and forward Ryan Broom both made summer moves to their parent clubs aiming to make an impact and, more through cirumstances than anything else, those moves have not worked out as they had hoped.

Both have a point to prove, whether it is to give the managers at their parent clubs a reminder about how good they can be or to put themselves in the shop window for their next move.

Centre-half Hayden Carter and goalkeeper Dillon Barnes are setting out on their senior careers. Here is a great opportunity for them to show their parent clubs they could be ready for a step up to the first team squad or, perhaps more realistically, an opportunity to promote themselves for a permanent move somewhere where they will get regular games.

Josh Earl, on loan from Preston North End, is a little older and probably

Tom Hamer a player who still has ambitions with his parent club. His is a classic case of “getting some regular games.”

Of the four permanent signings, three – Tom Hamer, Terry Taylor and Jonny Smith – are taking what they hope will be the next step in promising careers.

If Burton beat off the threat of relegation, not only will it be a good line for their CVS, they will be absolutely primed for making it a better season next time around.

The fourth, Josh

Parker, is the old experienced hand that Hasselbaink hopes can help nurture his clutch of younger players.

Parker’s impressive comments upon signing indicated that he fully understands that role and his 15 minutes or so as a substitute against Ipswich Town were those of a man prepared to take responsibility on the pitch.

Struggling teams certainly need those and, sadly, it had become apparent towards the end of Jake Buxton’s time as manager that one or two players were uncomfortable with the responsibility, tending to move the ball on to someone else rather than try to make something happen themselves.

You cannot imagine that will happen under Hasselbaink.

In all of this, let us not forget the players who were already at the club. The team have struggled but the squad was not full of bad players.

Nor were many people complaining when Buxton got his summer business out of the way early. On paper, the signings looked sound and Buxton was being praised for his quick action. Hasselbaink has made only the one “mature” signing, in Parker, but what is clear is that there is plenty of maturity in the squad he inherited. Contrary to the thousand and one speculators on the internet, captain John Brayford and the longest-serving current player, Lucas Akins, are still with Burton and two more determined and committed professionals you could not get.

If they stay fit, Michael Bostwick and John-joe O’toole could still have roles to play, while Kane Hemmings

Josh Parker

and Ryan Edwards have piled up good experience north and south of the border.

And then there is Colin Daniel. The unfortunate Daniel has found himself the player supporters most like to criticise in the last two seasons but look at the man’s career statistics.

He has made 478 appearances in just over 13 years as a professional, an average of 35 games a season. Fewer than 100 of those have been from the bench and Hasselbaink made a point of saying he was missed in the 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town. He still has a role to play.

But now it is all about getting a blend right, quickly, and that will, possibly, be a tougher job for Hasselbaink than actually signing the players.

The pessimist in me is alarmed to recall the example of Wigan Athletic in the 2016-17 season in the Championship.

No fewer than 13 players came in in January, while 16 went out. One of those who stayed put to see the season out was Jake Buxton.

It was desperate madness, overseen by manager Warren Joyce, who lasted four months, from November to March. He won six of 24 matches and there was no changing Wigan’s