40. Max O'Leary
Club: Bristol City
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
O’Leary has started every single game in all competitions since being made first-choice in late 2022. Good in the air and off his line, he’s also improving in his contribution to counter-attacks.
HIGHLIGHT Repelling nine shots on target to enable a 1-0 victory against Sunderland in December, including two impressive saves.
39. Macaulay Langstaff
Club: Notts County
Position: Forward
Age: 27
It’s a joy to play up top for Luke Williams – the chances just keep coming – so Langstaff did suffer when his gaffer left. But once he pops, you can’t stop him: six braces and a hat-trick in his 23 goals before March. Voracious.
DID YOU KNOW? He doesn’t do injuries (cue injury). Langstaff is the only League Two forward to start every game up to March 15.
38. John Swift
Club: West Bromwich Albion
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28
Every team could do with a Swift – a player who shows for the ball and recycles it, but always looks for the forward option first. If all else fails, he’ll twang in a beauty.
HIGHLIGHT August’s stunning solo goal to beat Middlesbrough, September’s free-kick to draw at Watford, October’s first-time 20-yarder against Birmingham...
37. Dion Charles
Club: Bolton Wanderers
Position: Forward
Age 28
Using his intelligent movement, the ex-Accy striker formed an effective partnership alongside Victor Adeboyejo for most of the season. Charles is integral to Bolton’s promotion hopes – his injury in February coincided with a pair of costly Lancashire derby defeats to Blackpool and Wigan.
HIGHLIGHT Scoring as Northern Ireland shocked Denmark 2-0.
36. Jodi Jones
Club: Notts County
Position: Wing-back
Age: 26
The most assists in an English league season had been 20, a record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Wing-back Jodi Jones had 21 before March began. His delivery, preposterously good for this level, is catnip to County’s forwards – including our No.39.
HE SAID: “Assisting is as hard as scoring. It isn’t just about you.”
35. Barry Bannan
Club: Sheffield Wednesday
Position: Midfielder
Age: 34
Bannan’s back balling in the Championship, after two seasons in League One and two months looking lost under Xisco Munoz. He’s been revived by Danny Röhl – only eight months his senior.
HE SAID: “I’ve worked under lots of managers who I thought were very good, but there’s something a little different about this guy.”
34. Harrison Burrows
Club: Peterborough United
Position: Defender
Age: 22
Burrows is at left-back again this year through circumstance, but he’ll be hoping to earn an advanced role once Ephron Mason-Clark departs in the summer. Strong in the tackle and with top-notch crossing, he drives Posh forward.
THEY SAID: “He’s showing a real maturity” – Darren Ferguson, on making Burrows vice-captain.
33. Viktor Johansson
Club: Rotherham United
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 25
The Swede is a shining light in a season that can’t end soon enough for Millers fans. He literally packs a punch, commanding his area, and his shot-stopping is superb – plus he knows how to pick out Cohen Bramall with a big throw.
HIGHLIGHT Brilliantly denying Boro’s Sam Greenwood (and others) in a 1-0 Boxing Day raid.
32. Davis Keillor-Dunn
Club: Mansfield Town
Position: Forward
Age: 26
HE TOLD FFT: "When you miss out by a goal, you think about chances you’ve missed, wondering, ‘What if?’. The manager said he didn’t want any play-offs this time – he wanted to be in the top three. That’s been our motivation. League Two is the toughest it’s ever been, but I’ve enjoyed it. Recently we’ve beaten Harrogate 9-2 and Salford 5-1 – goals galore."
Read our full interview with Davis Keillor-Dunn.
31. Yaser Asprilla
Club: Watford
Position: Winger
Age: 20
Even as the Hornets dropped their levels, the same couldn’t be said of Asprilla. The Colombian firework has brought courage, flair and a ferocious left-footed drive – see his pair of rockets against Norwich and Rotherham, scored within the same week.
DID YOU KNOW? Barcelona are interested – some compliment...
