Jack Robinson

Robinson can drop into the centre of defence or hold down the left back spot without the side losing much in either role, the versatility a squad leans on across a long season. That flexibility traces back to Liverpool's academy, where he was once the youngest player ever to appear for the club before injuries and competition slowed his rise. Promotion with Sheffield United to the Premier League proved the pedigree teammates had talked about for years was real.

The tension with a defender this adaptable is that versatility can quietly become a reason never to commit to one position. Managers value a player who covers several roles, but that same player can end up filling gaps rather than being the automatic first choice in his best position. Birmingham signed him for that pedigree, and how they use it says plenty about their trust in him.