From Britain’s next great goalkeeper to England’s one-time scapegoat, the second tier is rife with top-level net-guarders.
Who’d be a goalkeeper? Well, this lot. And, as it turns out, they’re rather good at it.
The Championship may be one of the most mentally and physically demanding leagues in European football but these five shot-stoppers continue to perform week in, week out, whether single-handedly staving off relegation or providing the platform for a play-off push.
Danny Ward
With Simon Mignolet continuing to flap like a budgie in a hurricane, highly-rated Welsh stopper Ward was expected to play some sort of a role under Jurgen Klopp in 2016-17 after making his Premier League debut towards the latter stages of last season. Their loss, then, is very much Huddersfield’s gain.
A superb loan spell at Aberdeen confirmed Ward’s status as one of Britain’s most exciting young goalkeepers of recent years, with Huddersfield benefiting big time from manager David Wagner’s close friendship with his former Dortmund colleague to secure the 23-year-old, who started Wales’ Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia, on a season-long loan.
David Stockdale
If Brighton finally achieve promotion to the top flight after years of near misses, reliable shot-stopper Stockdale is likely to play a major role.
The lynchpin of one of the league’s best defences last season, the former Fulham keeper has frequently saved victories from the jaws of draws for Chris Hughton’s side. Even at 30, Stockdale’s impressive reflexes remain as sharp as ever.
Rob Green
Sadly, and certainly unfairly, that spill in Rustenburg in the 2010 World Cup will always define the career of Rob Green, forever masking the fact that the former Norwich and West Ham ‘keeper has been one of the most reliable shot stoppers in the English game over the last decade.
Leeds have struggled to settle under another new manager and Green’s leadership and experience will be vital if Gary Monk is to turn round a testing start at Elland Road.
Anders Lindegaard
Once dubbed Peter Schmeichel’s heir for club and country, it’s fair to say Anders Lindegaard would hardly have expected to be guarding the sticks at Deepdale six years after rocking up at Old Trafford amid huge expectation.
A stand-out performance in Preston’s 2-0 win away at QPR in August, however, showcased the vast ability that once seized Sir Alex’s attention.
Kieren Westwood
Barring an injury-stricken spell at Sunderland, Irish international Westwood has spent the entirety of his career chipping away at the Premier League’s glass ceiling without ever really breaking through. Why, however, is anybody’s guess.
A superb shot-stopper capable of the odd virtuoso display now and again, Westwood’s save percentage has increased in each of the last five seasons, according to WhoScored.
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