All 24 EFL Championship clubs’ most reliable defender named and ranked from worst to best | OneFootball

FLW has looked at the 24 most reliable defenders across the Championship

With the Championship season now in full swing, we are starting to see which players perform the most consistently for each of the division's 24 sides.

Throughout the campaign, calling upon the services of an individual player could make or break a club's aims for the season, whether that may be automatic promotion, a play-off place or survival in the second tier, meaning reliability is key.

This certainly applies to those in the defensive department, with clean sheets crucial to any successful campaign whatever the end goal is, whilst some defenders are also known for their strong ability at the other end of the pitch

With that in mind, Football League World has named each club's most reliable defender and ranked them against 23 counterparts who also fall under said bracket.

Blackburn Rovers' rearguard has seen plenty of change in recent times, with Yuri Ribeiro currently the most consistent in the department right now, despite only joining the club in February.

The full-back has been an extremely dependable option for Valerien Ismael during his time at Ewood Park thus far, operating in a more defensive-minded manner that has seen his side concede very few goals despite a mixed start to the campaign in terms of results.

23 Watford - James Abankwah

That can also be said for Watford, who have been on the wrong end of some narrow contests so far, although young defender James Abankwah has continued to impress.

The young Irishman is currently in the midst of a second loan spell from Udinese, with his composure on the ball against several experienced frontmen during his first Championship stint earning him a first senior international call-up in June, although he has been in-and-out of Paulo Pezzolano's side so far this season.

22 Charlton Athletic - Lloyd Jones

Charlton Athletic's promotion-winning season from League One last term was built on defensive solidity, with Lloyd Jones at the heartbeat of such strong performances.

Unsurprisingly, the former Liverpool man was named in the third-tier's Team of the Season as a result of his consistency, and his defensive nous and interventions have already been key so far this term as the Addicks look to consolidate back in the Championship.

Despite investing heavily in the likes of Conor Coady and Dom Hyam, Max Cleworth has continued to show how vital he is to Wrexham as the Red Dragons make another step up in class.

The 23-year-old has made over 140 appearances for the club during their well-documented rise from the National League, and his ball-playing ability has been integral in away successes over Millwall and Norwich City, during which he posted his first two assists at second-tier level.

Back in March, he was tipped by current club-record sale, Bryan Hughes, to break his feat and eventually be sold for way more than £1m.

20 Sheffield Wednesday - Liam Palmer

It is a bleak predicament for Sheffield Wednesday at present, meaning the services of the ever-reliable and experienced Liam Palmer are more important than ever.

Palmer has become a modern-day legend at Hillsborough, making over 470 competitive appearances for his boyhood club whilst offering strong versatility to numerous managers and head coaches.

Such a theme has continued this season with Henrik Pedersen having limited options to select from, with the 34-year-old featuring in both defence and midfield.

19 Derby County - Craig Forsyth

Much like Palmer, Craig Forsyth has very rarely let the Derby County cause down during a lengthy spell at Pride Park.

At 36 years of age, the Scottish defender continues to be a mainstay in the Rams' rearguard under John Eustace at full-back and centre-back, with his performances at the back end of last season key to the club's survival as he subsequently earned another contract extension in the process.

18 Millwall - Tristan Crama

Tristan Crama has been an impressive addition to Millwall's defensive ranks since joining from Brentford in January, with his versatility also key for Alex Neil.

The Frenchman posted a handful of assists whilst impressing in a right-back role initially, before seamlessly making a transition back to centre-back alongside stalwart Jake Cooper as the Lions continue to show their defensive resolve.

It has been a solid start for Portsmouth and an even better individual one for Conor Shaughnessy, who has been one of John Mousinho's most consistent performers thus far.

The Irishman rarely featured last term due to injury, but has since reminded the Fratton Park masses just how pivotal his aerial presence is against opposition frontmen, with the Blues conceding less than one goal per match on average in the early weeks of the campaign.

Jordan Storey's performances for Preston North End have often gone under-the-radar, particularly this season as the Lilywhites' impressive start has been built on strong defensive foundations.

The 28-year-old has become a mainstay at Deepdale ever since his move from Exeter City in 2018, and his importance to the squad was showcased last December as he penned a new deal which runs until the summer of 2028.

15 Oxford United - Michal Helik

Michal Helik previously built a reputation as one of the Championship's most dependable centre-backs in spells with Barnsley and Huddersfield Town, now it is Oxford United supporters who are seeing exactly why that is the case.

The towering Polish international's acquisition in January was a masterstroke by Gary Rowett, as he continues to dominate plenty of aerial battles within both boxes, which have already swung plenty of contests in favour of the U's. His experience will be vital if Oxford are to, once again, prove the doubters wrong.