Bostwick, Hughes a growing partnership
THE developing centre-back partnership between Michael Bostwick and Sam Hughes was again evident as Burton Albion battled to a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland on Tuesday night.
It was not a partnership that was envisaged in pre-season, since Hughes had not arrived on loan from Leicester City and Bostwick started the campaign playing in front of the back four before succumbing to injury against Aston Villa.
He returned for 45 minutes away to Plymouth Argyle on October 10 before suffering a recurrence of his injury and the two were briefly alongside each other in a back line also disrupted that day by a 13thminute injury to John Brayford.
They have been together for the last two games and, with both standing around 6ft 4in, are the biggest pair of central defenders Burton have fielded in recent memory.
After his early injuries, Bostwick is starting to show just why manager Jake Buxton was so keen to add him to the squad in the summer.
“We brought Michael to the club and we were missing him for a time at the start of the season,” said Buxton.
“If you’ve had the career that Michael has had, in terms of games at this level, above and below, you are going to add something.
“He has a defensive mindset, he organises and he is a physical presence.
“Bossie is getting stronger and fitter with every game.
“We knew he would be a good signing when we got the opportunity to bring him to the club.
He’s missed nine weeks from the beginning of the season, from his injury in the Aston Villa game, so we’re only just starting to reap the benefits of him being in and around the training and playing the games.”
The combination of youth and experience is useful too.
“Sam’s contribution to the team since he came in has been solid,” said Buxton.
“At times, the experienced man needs legs around him.
“Bostwick is making decisions and talking, he’s bringing that to the table, while Hughes has the energy and the spring.
“He’s been very dominant aerially and has contributed to keeping the number of set-piece goals down below what they were.
“I think we are shaking that problem off.”
STRIKER Kane Hemmings will get another clear week to recover from his quad injury before being considered for a return away to Milton Keynes Dons a week tomorrow.
Hemmings pulled up with the injury in the warm-up ahead of the 2-0 defeat away to Hull City on November 14 and has missed the last two games.
He will not play against Crewe Alexandra tomorrow.
“Kane won’t be available for Saturday. He’s been back on the grass and he’s doing well but we’re looking towards MK Dons away,” said Buxton.
After the Sunderland game, coach Chris Beardsley spoke about the need to be careful with players’ knocks and niggles, given that they had had sduch a long break between seasons and were now taking part in a condensed season, with more midweek games than usual.