Phil Neumann

Neumann offers a rare combination for a centre back, genuine recovery pace alongside the height to win almost anything in the air on both sides of the pitch. Hannover's own sporting director once pointed to that blend of speed and size as the reason clubs kept asking about him, and Birmingham eventually won that race. He has already turned it into goals rather than just clean sheets, rising above markers at set pieces to head home important winners.

The question with a defender built this way is whether the attacking end of his game costs him at the other. Centre backs who enjoy a set piece run can occasionally lose concentration on marking duties that matter just as much in a deep defensive block. Birmingham will take the goals gladly, provided the pace behind him keeps covering for it.