1. Brian Jensen (Burnley)

‘The Beast’, as he is affectionately known, may have conceded more goals than any other goalkeeper this season (73 in the league) but it would have been so much more if it wasn’t for his superb shot stopping. He was a bit of a late bloomer and didn’t play much first team football until he joined Burnley at the age of 28. Undoubtedly good enough to play in the top flight, the newly promoted clubs could do worse than consider adding the Dane to their ranks.

2. Ronald Zubar (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

The signing of Guadeloupian defender Ronald Zubar left many Wolves fans scratching their heads in wonder at who exactly he was. Language barrier problems which delayed his debut until October only added to the mystery, but since then neither club nor player has looked back. With 22 appearances in all, he has firmly established himself in the side and can play at both right back and centre half.

3. Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers)

Despite having made less than ten senior appearances, Rovers have seen enough to hand 18 year old defender Phil Jones a five year contract. An outstanding performance on his league debut against Chelsea earned him rave reviews and he comfortably filled in for the injured Ryan Nelsen, starting seven consecutive games.

4. Jordan Henderson (Sunderland)

Sunderland supporters feared the worst when big money signing Lee Cattermole was ruled out for 12 weeks early on in the season but they need not have as Jordan Henderson stepped in to fill the void. Calling on the experience gained from a spell on loan at Coventry in 2009, the 19 year old looked comfortable in the middle of the park and picked up the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

5. Scott Dann (Birmingham City)

Unfortunately for Dann, the superb performances of defensive partner Roger Johnson have largely overshadowed his own excellent form throughout the season. Signed from Coventry City last summer, the 23 year old eased into the Premier League and looked immediately at home. He made 30 league appearances before a calf injury ended his campaign three games early.

6. Steven N’Zonzi (Blackburn Rovers)

An absolute bargain signing at just £500,000 from Amiens SC, 21 year old midfielder Steven N’Zonzi slotted into the Blackburn Rovers midfield as if he had been there for years. He netted his first goal in a defeat to Arsenal and his second against Everton was a stunning strike from outside the area. The French under 21 international was recently voted the club’s Player of the Year.

7. Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers)

Korea Republic international Lee Chung-Yong is widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects from Asia, and his performances certainly lit up the Reebok Stadium this season. In January of 2009 he was named as one of the top 50 rising stars in football by The Times newspaper. He scored four times in 34 games after joining from FC Seoul in July last year.

8. Mohamed Diamé (Wigan Athletic)

Diamé finally joined Wigan in February after concerns over an alleged heart problem, but since finding his feet he has been excellent in midfield. He began his career with Lens but was forced into an extended absence because of health issues. The 22 year old returned to the game with Spanish lower league side Linares before making his name with Rayo Vallecano.

9. Hugo Rodallega (Wigan Athletic)

Rodallega joined Wigan in January of 2009 and made an immediate impact, in successive games against Manchester United and West Brom. Fans could be forgiven for being slightly apprehensive given what happened to his predecessor up front, Amir Zaki, but unlike the Egyptian, Rodallega has been a model professional and continues to shine. He scored an impressive ten goals to finsih the season as the club’s top scorer.

10. Alessandro Diamanti (West Ham United)

Alessandro Diamanti is the quitessential Italian footballer – charasmatic, flamboyant and very, very good. It’s hard to believe that just three years ago he was plying his trade in the fourth tier of Italian football before moving to the big time with Livorno in 2007. Gianfranco Zola was suitably impressed by the 26 year old’s Serie A performances and signed him on a five year deal. His first goal came from the spot against Liverpool, and he finished with seven in total.

11. Adam Johnson (Manchester City)

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester City’s big money January signing was a 22 year old winger from the Championship. However Brian Marwood and his scouting team have been proved correct in their decision to push for the acquisition from Middlesbrough. Johnson has shone since his transfer, and put in some superb performances, most notably away to Burnley where he contributed three assists. His form has been so good that there have been calls for him to be included in Fabio Capello’s England squad for the World Cup.

—————————————–Jensen————————————

—————————Zubar——-Dann——–Jones———————-

Lee————Henderson——–—Diamé——–N’Zonzi——–Johnson

—————————Diamanti—————-Rodallega——————-

Now, as we approach the New Year, the Blues lie in a healthy 7th position, one point ahead of Liverpool and one point behind Manchester City.

McLeish made the decision to bank his team’s defensive duties on the two Englishmen, who made a name for themselves in the Coca Cola Championship last season with Coventry and Cardiff. The incredible gamble cost a combined fee of £10million, and the result couldn’t have come any better.

Birmingham’s success this year starts from the bottom. While the forwards, which includes £8million striker Chucho Benitez, haven’t been firing on all cylinders, the defense that has been created here has contributed more to their twenty-eight point tally then any other area on the field.

Between the sticks is the fantastic England U21 goalkeeper Joe Hart, the man expected to adopt the England #1 spot after the World Cup next summer. On the right is the previously retired Stephen Carr, who decided to put up his slippers and cups of tea to don a pair of football boots again. Carr is now captain at St. Andrews, after his collosal work in getting them to the Premier League last season. The left back position has been shared between a number of players this season, most recently Liam Ridgewell, a fine centre half, whose aeriel prowess has further solidified the backline.

And in the middle is Roger Johnson and Scott Dann. In the air, or on the ground, they’ve put their body on the line and cleared every sight of danger quickly and extremely effectively – an assurance that has gathered seven clean sheets this season.  They’ve displayed a commitment and dedication any team in the Premier League would love to have right now, including Sir Alex Ferguson who I’m sure would walk over broken glass for such a consistent pairing in his current defensive crisis. And not to mention Manchester City, who splashed out over treble the amount on what has turned out to be a feeble defense.

“The type of mentalities they’ve got, they are winners, they want to win. They’ll throw themselves at balls on the edge of the box, you see the bravery of Roger taking one in the throat (against Manchester City) and getting killed by his teammates when they saw him gasping for breath. These two boys want it, I know they want it.”
- Alex McLeish

This all proves that talent can thrive in the lower leagues, one that is just waiting to be uncovered. Alex McLeish has unearthed two rocksteady players who will be fixed assests in the Premier League for the majority of their careers. Buying Premier League experience is costly, especially when it comes to strenghtening your defense. With the right scouting homework, Premier League managers can uncover gems for a fraction of the price they splash out on the Kolo Toure’s and Joleon Lescott’s of the league.

The Birmingham train rolls into Stamford Bridge this Boxing Day to face a powerful Chelsea attack, a challenge the breaking down these two.

“The more we play together, the better we will get. We never got the chance earlier in the season because I was a bit longer coming back from injury than Roger. But we’re starting to knit together quite nicely I think and long may it continue.”
- Scott Dann