Albion are not prepared to take a gamble on Niasse as list comes out
BUT BURTON SPRING FEW SURPRISES AMONG REST
BURTON Albion will not be attempting to retain the services of striker Oumar Niasse after his short-term deal ended with the closing of the 2021-22 season.
That was the main news as the Brewers released an unsurprising retained list, with five players definitely leaving at the end of their contracts, 17 remaining under contract and seven, including club captain John Brayford, offered new terms.
Niasse, the Senegalese front man who once cost Everton £13.5m, came to Burton as a free agent in February after a frustrating period of injury.
He had not played a game for his last club, Huddersfield Town, and was without a goal since scoring for Hull City in 2017.
But, at 32, he was trying to rebuild his career and he showed flashes of real class in a Burton shirt, scoring three goals in 12 appearances, seven of which were starts.
Obviously, manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink did not see enough in those 12 matches to think that Niasse might be a longer-term solution to the Brewers’ issues in front of goal.
The player missed a surprisingly large number of one-on-ones when put through in several matches. Arguably, he converted the most difficult, under pressure, against Fleetwood Town, when he scored twice in a 3-2 win.
But it was also noticeable that he was prepared to argue the toss with the manager when instructions were sent his way – that was hardly likely to go down well. Hasselbaink had already said that Brayford, midfielder Joe Powell and veteran defender or midfielder Michael Mancienne would be offered new deals at the Pirelli Stadium and they have been. Goalkeepers Callum Hawkins and Daniel Moore, defender Thierry Latty-fairweather and striker Tom Hewlett have also been offered fresh terms.
Of the club’s academy players, the versatile Ben Radcliffe, who has had an impressive loan spell with Mickleover, and Jakub Niemczyk, who was making people sit up and take notice on loan with Belper Town before suffering a serious leg break, are being offered their first professional deals.
Winger Danny Rowe, who featured only in the Papa John’s Trophy in a disappointing one-year deal after signing as a free agent the previous season, young defender Luke Redfern and veteran Michael Bostwick, who finished the season on loan with Stevenage, are being released. So is striker Aaron Amadiholloway, whose only goals for the club came in the Papa John’s Trophy dead rubber away to Wycombe Wanderers.
Loanees Harry Chapman (Blackburn Rovers), Jacob Maddox (Vitória de Guimaraes), Christian Saydee (Bournemouth) and Matej Kovar (Manchester United) will return to their parent clubs at the end of their loan spells.
Of Brayford, Hasselbaink said: “John has been the most consistent player and he deserves the Player of the Season award.
“He has played a lot of matches and he was missed when he didn’t play, it wasn’t really the same.”
Of Powell, he said: “Joe is in his last year but we are offering him a new contract as well.
“He has been up and down and we are trying to get that consistency in his game.
“He doesn’t always have to produce an assist or a goal, although we’d like him to. We believe he can do that.
“Obviously, we will see a few players leave. Bozzy (Bostwick) was really influential when we stayed up last season and we’ll always remember him for that.”
Hasselbaink professed himself “very disappointed” about Rowe last week and added: “It hasn’t really worked out for Danny and Aaron, and we will also be losing Luke and Oumar but we wish them all well and thank them for their service.”
It is highly unlikely that all 17 of the retained players will start next season with the Brewers, more likely that the club will listen to offers for some of them, but time will tell.
Hasselbaink clearly feels he has the nucleus of a good squad in place and will tweak that over the summer.
Joe has been up and down but we are trying to get that consistency in his game. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink