Jason Shackell

If Bozzy doesn’t get Player of the Year and I don’t get my recount, then it’d better be Jason Shackell’s name on the trophy.

Honesty shout; when we signed him I had to get on Google. I’d been following the National League, not the Championship and the different players who graced the likes of Wolves, Norwich and Derby were a mystery to me. I knew Liam Scully was very excited on the afternoon before it was confirmed, but I felt a bit underwhelmed. 34-year-old dropping into League Two haven’t always covered themselves in glory.

I remember Steve Foley, Trevor Hebberd, Kingsley Black and Dave Phillips They were all from further up the divisions, they were all past 30 and they were all complete and utter dross. All I saw when Shackell arrived was more of the same, or rather I feared the same. I suppose fitness has move on, sports science has too and I didn’t truly believe Danny would sign a carthorse, but still. 34-years-old? Come on.

I expected someone to play a few games and maybe get into the coaching side of things, but what we got was a defender who still showed all the qualities required to play in the second tier. How we ever attracted this Rools Royce of a player to Sincil Bank I’ll never know, but for 33 matches he’s played the calming influence next to Bozzy’s raging bull. They’re yin and yang, the opposites which complete a whole.

Jason Shackell organises and controls. He reads the game superbly and has rarely been caught out. At Goodison Park, the threat through the centre was very much stifled thanks to both players and to judge one without the other is actually quite hard. They’re a great pairing, complementing each other to the benefit of the team.

He’s also surprised with a few goals too, none of which have been tap ins. The Morecambe free-kick obviously stands out, but then the Macclesfield finish was clever and the Swindon strike was good too.

The only blots on his copybook have been the red cards, both of which were avoidable. I suppose I should condemn the whole ‘pushing Seb Stockbridge’ thing as well, but I’ll do so with a wry smile as though I’m telling off a child who has done something I would have done myself in the same situation.

To have him for another year is exciting, it’s also interesting. Will he keep Bolger out of the side, or will his legs finally begin to show signs of the career he’s enjoyed? Who knows, but for now he’s been a key component of our championship winning season.