HOPE Akpan could play a key part in the fight against relegation says Nigel Clough.
The Brewers boss praised the midfielder for his performance in the 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday.
The manager said: “We have been unfair with Hope. He has said ‘just give me two or three games’ and he’s not had that all season. Everybody else has had an opportunity.
“He was close to going in the widow as we had a couple of enquiries but with a couple of days to go we asked him if he was up for the rest of the season and he said ‘yes’.
“At Bristol City away, he did as well as anyone and we left him out for tactical reasons and we should have given him a run then. He has only 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there and it’s not fair. He deserves a run as much as anyone.
“We have seen his ability on the training ground as much as anyone in the squad. But he has to show that out on the pitch. You saw his lack of confidence when he turned down a couple of shooting opportunities on Saturday and I hope that in a few games time he will be taking those.”