Albion defender Matt Clarke has been named Derby County’s player of the season.

He topped a week-long online poll among Rams fans.

Clarke has yet to play in a competitive fixture for the Seagulls following his move last summer from Portsmouth,.

But his excellent form across 37 appearances in all competitions has added another facet to what looks an intriguing situation among Albion defenders going into next season.

 

 

His fellow centre-backs Ben White and Leo Ostigard were widely regarded as the best players at their loan clubs, Leeds and St Pauli respectively.

The Seagulls this week signed Ajax defender Joel Veltman, who can play on the right of a back three.

Clarke is only the second loan player to win the Derby award.

How Albion pulled off their great Veltman coup

The other was former Albion loanee and his fellow defender Fikayo Tomori in the 2018-19 season.

Centre-backs Richard Keogh, Mark Wright, Colin Todd and Roy McFarland have also been voted Derby’s top man down the years.