With Ashley Williams reportedly set to depart the club amid a summer clear-out, a bigger role is expected to fall to young Mason Holgate.
In previous seasons veteran Williams, 33, has acted as a mentor to the 21-year-old and the Englishman considers the Welshman as “one of my best friends on and off the field.”
Williams, who enjoyed a stellar first season with the club, had a less convincing second. The ex-Swansea man has not featured for the side since being sent off during the 2-1 defeat to Burnley back in March. Now, with the club under the new management team of Marco Silva and Marcel Brands, is the time for Holgate to lay his claim to take – and keep – Williams’ position.
The 21-year-old, blessed with both power and pace, is competent at filling in at centre-half or at full back and his versatility is sure to impress Silva and Brands.
With first-choice right back, Seamus Coleman, set to miss the start of the season through injury, Holgate may well get the nod for the position even though he sees his long-term future in the centre of defence.
“Centre-back is where I see myself long-term but it just depends what will come with time. I will play anywhere. I just want to help the team.”
New manager, Silva, has already outlined that he wants the team to play in a 4-3-3 system intent on pressing the opposition high up the pitch.
Attack-minded full backs that bomb up and down the flanks are an important part of that system, and in Holgate, Silva has one who will be hungry to prove his worth to the new gaffer.
Whether Holgate will be up to the task remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, the 21-year-old has an important season ahead.