Joe Ward

Ward spent years establishing himself as an out and out winger, before a positional switch to wing back unlocked the best version of his game. It let him keep his attacking instincts while giving him a clearer defensive job alongside them. He gets up and down the flank relentlessly, arriving late into the box the way a winger would, rather than staying pinned to the touchline. His end product from wide areas has become one of the more reliable sources of chances in the side.

The obvious concern with any converted winger playing wing back is defensive discipline against a genuinely quick opponent. Habits built over a career going forward do not disappear overnight. His route through the lower leagues before reaching this level suggests a player who has never taken his place for granted, and that tends to matter more than raw pace once a manager needs consistency.