Ian Maatsen arrived at Burnley on loan last summer as a 20-year-old and played 39 of their 46 games en route to the Championship title. Luton Town could depend on Amari’i Bell for 44 games in defence.
In 2021/22, Fulham could rely on Antonee Robinson for 36 appearances en route to the second-tier crown. Jordan Zemura would appear 33 times as Bournemouth followed the Cottagers up from the Championship.
They are all left-backs. It’s not a trend which emerges in that corner of the pitch alone. Promotion-winning sides are built upon the backs of reliable performers who know their roles and turn in seven-out-of-10s every week for nine months.
