ETHAN PINNOCK

AGE: 25 CLUB: BARNSLEY POSITION: DEFENDER VALUE: £650,000 2018-19 APPS: 45 GOALS: 1

WHAT HAS HE GOT?

I LIKE players who have progressed from non-League — it shows great determination and character. Pinnock went from Dulwich Hamlet to Forest Green and now he is in League One. He keeps stepping up and his next move up the ladder could come with Barnsley into the Championship. He looks in control and has the height and physical attributes required in his position. He’s certainly making a mark in a Barnsley side that is both creative and solid at the back. They have shown a locked back door recently with seven consecutive clean sheets — 10 and a half hours without conceding. Tall and commanding, Pinnock seems completely unflustered, timing challenges well and showing a good relationship with his colleagues. On set-pieces he was a big threat and the opposition tried to block his runs. At this level play can be untidy, with defenders often advised to hoist the ball away from dangerous areas. However, when he had the time, Pinnock passed the ball out of defence at every opportunity.

WHAT DOES HE NEED?

HIS pace is adequate but I got the impression he could be tested by an opponent with a bit more ingenuity. In the game I saw he was up against a tall, lively striker and looked edgy early on but slowly gained the ascendancy and ultimately dominated his opponent. He blocked the runs into the channel and manoeuvred his team-mates up the pitch. He was not worried about leaving space in behind the defence as his team chased the game which shows great belief and confidence. As a left-footed player, it is surprising he operates on the right side of Barnsley’s central defensive pairing. In this game his fellow centre back, Liam Lindsay, was also left-footed — I can’t think of any other league side who regularly play with two left-footed central defenders.