Dan Burn labelled best defender in the Championship

Wigan Athletic star Dan Burn has been labelled '˜the best defender in the Championship' ahead of tonight's return to his former club Birmingham.
Dan Burn in actionDan Burn in action
Dan Burn in action

Burn is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment, having endured a shaky start to his Latics career after his summer signing from Fulham.

And the 24-year-old, who spent a pivotal season of his development on loan at Birmingham in 2013/14, is currently as good as there is in the division, according to Latics stand-in boss Graham Barrow.

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“Considering where we are in the league, the defenders have been absolutely outstanding,” acknowledged Barrow.

“And if there’s a better centre-half in the league than Dan Burn then I haven’t seen him – especially in the last five or six months.

“He’s been absolutely outstanding for us in recent months.”

Barrow is expected to once again take charge of the team, alongside Andy Welsh, with Warren Joyce still recovering from recent eye surgery.

Joyce made a surprise appearance at Blackburn on Saturday, and Barrow says the gaffer is also hoping to be in attendance for another crunch clash in the Midlands.

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“Warren’s had another appointment today (Monday), but he’ll certainly be in and around it tomorrow night,” he added. “He’ll either travel down with us or meet us at Birmingham.”

Barrow also reported a positive injury bulletin on Shaun MacDonald, who was stretchered off at the weekend with a knee injury.

“Hopefully, touch wood, it’s not as bad as we thought,” Barrow revealed. “Probably the pain on the impact was the most severe part.

“As far as the after-effects, it looks like there might not be too much damage, which is obviously great. I’m optimistic he might be fit for Saturday’s game against Bristol City.”