And the winner is...Surprise prizes at early award ceremony

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Prize day is months away and, in May, there may not be any trophies for Derby County.

But there is no harm in dishing out a couple of interim awards, especially as they are notional and do not call on the engraver’s skill.

So I nominate the Biggest Impact of 2008-09 and the Most Welcome Surprise.

During the summer, Paul Jewell signed 13 players and a number have settled well to produce consistent performances.

But the man who has made the biggest difference was already at Pride Park, even if few seemed to recognise that.

Miles Addison played a couple of games as a central defender under Terry Westley at the end of 2005-6. On that evidence, he seemed to have a good chance of a career in the game.

He was in the shadows for two years until a solitary Premiership appearance at Blackburn last May. It was almost a token gesture but, after a worrying start to this season, Addison was one of several changes for the Carling Cup tie at Preston in August.

He showed he could do a job in midfield, continued to perform with authority and is now indispensable.

Jordan Stewart was also introduced at Preston. As a summer signing, Stewart created little excitement. Some recalled a slightly wayward career with Leicester City and Watford released him before last season’s play-offs.

He has greater substance than his record implies. Like Paul Connolly on the right, Stewart looks after his defensive duties.

His terrific goal against Sheffield Wednesday was a bonus, as was Addison’s. Stewart is the Most Welcome Surprise and it seldom pays to pre-judge newcomers.

Other stories on this day

• O'Shea shines as he makes a case
• Jewell hoping defensive duo come through without injury
• Loans can prove so costly