The Berbatov of League Two! And Andy Corbett

SO who is the Berbatov of League Two?

Well, according to Kevin Summerfield, it’s Michael Symes.

I have suggested before that behind the assistant manager’s outwardly quiet, man-of-few-words public image lurks a dry wit.

But while Summerfield was undoubtedly joking on one level, you can see what he’s getting at when you look closer.

Gary Rowett mentioned that Sunmerfield had come out with the description of the on-loan striker from Leyton Orient at training.

What he means is that, like Berbatov, Symes can have a languid air on the pitch, as if he’s strolling unhurried about his work. But that should not be mistaken for laziness and, the management team contend, it can mislead opponents.

Rowett cited Symes’ brilliant goal to win the game against Aldershot Town as an example.

When a long high ball came down the field towards the striker and three defenders, they all back off him. The ball was allowed to bounce, they did not really stop him controlling it.

What they did not expect was that he would then turn and volley it into the top corner of the net. But Burton supporters had already seen an example of Symes’ control and awareness when he juggled for four or five touches before equalising at Wimbledon.

“He has terrific awareness,” said Rowett. “He knows where everyone is, his team-mates, the defenders, the goalkeeper – he spotted that the Aldershot keeper was slightly off his line.”

Rowett and Summerfield don’t think Symes is lazy at all. They think he can just look that way, although it wasn’t something that had occurred to me until the manager mentioned it.

Symes had a groin problem for the away game at Dagenham and, arguably, his ability to hold the ball up and bring other into play was missed. That said, Calvin Zola played and it wasn’t very long ago at all that we were describing those abilities as among Zola’s best assets. Truth is, they still are; it’s just that Calvin, like one or two others, didn’t have one of his best days at Dagenham.

Symes has certainly upped the ante in terms of competition up front and that was something Rowett quietly alluded to when I talked to him about the assembling of the current squad this week.

He likes the fact that there is good competition to play at centre-half and up front, competition he has ramped up by adding Ian Sharps and Symes (pictured) on loan. When you get in, you have to play well to stay in and when others get a chance, even if it’s off the bench, they have to put themselves about to have a chance of securing a place.

It is, of course, how it should be.

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Not too much has been said about Andy Corbett’s testimonial as yet, which is rather a shame and yet understandable in that a promotion bid is bound to overshadow everything at this stage of a season.

Corbs is also one of the quiet men of football; it’s just his nature. When others spend their summers on a beach, his idea of a perfect holiday is to flog himself up a mountain, either on his bike or climbing it.

There is no date yet for a testimonial match but a committee is operating, with director Frank Spiers and Radio Derby summariser Tony Bentley particularly active on it.

There is to be an Andy Corbett Testimonial Golf Day on Monday, April 29 at Broughton Heath GC, Bent Lane, Church Broughton, DE65 5BA

The entry is £75 for a team of three, to include 18 holes and a barbecue. Each team of three will have a fourth player allocated to them from among the players, management, staff and guests of the club.

Gary Rowett, Kevin Summerfield and Zander Diamond are already confirmed as among these.

Golf Day booking forms are available from www.andycorbettgolf@gmail.com

Various Sponsorship opportunities are available including for the nearest the pin prizes and for sponsorship of each.

Please contact Tony Bentley on 07733 315249 for more details.

Anyone not wanting to play but who would like to attend the barbecue, which starts at 5pm, can but a ticket for that for £8.

Cheques should be sent payable to “Frank Spiers & Co Re Andy Corbett's Testimonial”  together with a stamped addressed envelope to Tony Bentley, 3 Lancaster Drive, Hilton, Derbyshire, DE65 5JQ.

* I update Burton Albion news as and when I have it in the Derby Telegraph newspaper, on the paper's website, at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/burtonalbion#axzz2O55kEdDo and I update from matches and during the week on Twitter:  @ColstonC