Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis were the candidates expected to battle it out for the prize of playing second fiddle to Matt Targett this season. However, when the team sheet dropped at the Amex Stadium on Saturday it was Dan Burn who deputised for the left-back on the south coast.
Burn is no stranger to playing full-back after excelling in the role during his time at Brighton. With the Seagulls' defence dominated by the likes of Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Ben White in recent years, Graham Potter had to make the decision to play his 6 ft 7in defender out wide.
Burn subsequently flourished in the role and arguably played his best football as a full-back. Quite fitting that when Targett pulled out of Saturday's 0-0 draw, Eddie Howe opted to roll back the years and stick Burn in that position once again on his first return to his former side.
