With Dann out for a while, Tomkins seeming to pick up knocks quite often, and Delaney not fancied for some reason, it looks like we might be leaning on Kelly to play centre back in the coming games.

I always thought he was worth a try there. He seems too tall for a full back, and though he hasn't really kicked on since he joined us he was a young outsider for England squads when he got in on the scene at Liverpool, and looked promising generally.

Playing in the centre seemed a natural progression for Kelly, particularly when we only really had Dann and Delaney there last year, but up to now it hasn't happened.

From anyone who went there, how did he do down at Southampton? That seems to be his first game there from what I can recall (in the league at least).

Quite what this means for Delaney is anyone's guess. I'm not sure what he's done wrong to be overlooked in the absence of Dann and Tomkins, but if Kelly can come good there he would not only help us out right now, but save us going into the market in the summer.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (07 Apr 2017 5.56pm)

Delaney is also useful going up for set pieces - provided of course the balls in play to that strength instead of being punted in feebly to the near post, as was the case on Wednesday.

Kelly also had a decent crack however and did hit the post.

Edited by chateauferret (07 Apr 2017 6.27pm)

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The Ferret
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He played last Saturday. So that puts the lid on that little theory.

He did. And yes he was, well and truly.

He's full England International

On his day he's better than Ward at right-back. Both are pretty similar standard imo.