If Ciaron Brown enjoyed a successful campaign last season, then he has already gone above and beyond this year.
The Oxford United defender, who initially joined the U’s on loan before signing on a permanent basis, claimed both Players’ player of the Year and the Andrew Knapton Supporters’ player of the Year awards last season.
This season, he has been deployed as a centre-back more often than a left-back and his performances have been even more consistent.
Player in Focus: Ciaron Brown
Solid Centre-Back
Admittedly, he did a reasonable job as a left-back, both last season under Karl Robinson and this season under Liam Manning.
He began the campaign on the left but following the arrival of Greg Leigh, he was reinstated into the middle – a more natural position for the Northern Ireland international.
He’s a player who will give a seven out of ten every game and literally throw his body on the line. Playing alongside Elliott Moore has really brought the best out of him.
Their partnership is beginning to flourish and it’s given new head coach Des Buckingham a platform in which to build.
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Important Goals
Besides Leigh, who enjoyed a fruitful spell in front of goal before picking up an injury, Brown is the club’s highest-scoring defender this season with four goals in 24 league appearances. He had scored three in his previous 57.
His goals have also been important. The second in a 3-0 win over Shrewsbury, the opener on a foggy night in Lincoln, the first in a draw against Thames Valley rivals Reading and a last-minute winner against Cambridge. It’s also worth noting that he also claimed an assist in that victory over Cambridge.
International Recognition
His time at Oxford has propelled him into becoming a regular fixture for the Northern Ireland side.
Currently, the defender sits on 18 caps for his country and although he wasn’t selected when the squads were announced in October, he returned for the international fixtures in November, playing the full 90 minutes as they beat Denmark at Windsor Park.
