One moment cannot totally define a team's season.

But the ACL injury suffered by Liam Boyce on the verge of Burton Albion's second Championship campaign was an undeniably huge turning point in their bid for safety.

It left Albion without their club-record signing and first-choice striker for the majority of the campaign.

Here, we reflect on the performances of the Brewers' other forwards in 2017-18 - and how Boyce fared after his return to action.

DARREN BENT

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 15

Darren Bent cups his ear to the Sunderland fans
Darren Bent cups his ear to the Sunderland fans

SEASON REVIEW: The Brewers' January loan capture of Darren Bent from Derby County felt like a real coup.

He came close to breaking his Albion duck early on, with goalless draws against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest seeing him denied by fine goalkeeping performances.

But he and Liam Boyce struggled to link effectively as a front two - apart from in the 3-1 loss at Cardiff City, when Bent notched his first Brewers goal.

That meant the Derby loanee spent the final games of the season coming off the bench late on, which he did to great effect by scoring an equaliser against former club Sunderland in that bonkers 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

FINAL WORD: Bent has been released by Derby following the end of the 2017-18 season, and it will be interesting to see where his next move takes him.

LUCAS AKINS

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 42

SEASON REVIEW: Burton's Mr Versatile still looks most dangerous when he is played upfield.

But his positional flexibility was never utilised more than this season. Akins was impressive up front, at right-back, in central midfield and on both wings.

His consistency across the field was recognised by fans and teammates alike as he clinched the player-of-the-year double, as well as grabbing five League goals.

Lucas Akins applauds the crowd after Burton Albion's 3-1 win over Derby County
Lucas Akins applauds the crowd after Burton Albion's 3-1 win over Derby County

FINAL WORD: Akins' form over two Championship seasons will not have gone unnoticed. Under contract until 2019, the ex-Stevenage man may be the player Nigel Clough is most concerned about losing this summer.

LUKE VARNEY

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 18

SEASON REVIEW: The man whose goal confirmed Albion's Championship survival in 2016-17 would earn only one League start the following season.

Varney's sole goal this time around came in the Carabao Cup win at Oldham Athletic, as he was utilised off the bench against tiring defences in the Championship.

He was close to leaving on loan in January and made only four appearances after December 9.

FINAL WORD: Varney was released by the Brewers earlier this month and will become a free agent for the summer window.

MARVIN SORDELL

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 40

SEASON REVIEW: When Sordell is in form, he can produce moments of brilliant quality.

He showed that with a stunning equaliser in the August win over Birmingham City, as well as getting decisive goals against Millwall and Middlesbrough.

The Brewers forward played as a striker and on the wings this season, and that perhaps affected his consistency slightly.

Like many of his teammates, his performance levels rose again as the campaign drew to its dramatic close.

Marvin Sordell in action for Burton Albion
Marvin Sordell in action for Burton Albion

FINAL WORD: Sordell signed a three-year deal last summer and will be a big part of Clough's attacking plans in League One, where his skill and finishing ability could see him thrive.

JOE SBARRA

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 17

SEASON REVIEW: It was a breakthrough season for Brewers academy graduate Sbarra.

After making a final-day debut in 2016-17, the diminutive No.10 and winger made 17 Championship appearances in his first full senior campaign.

His willingness to run directly at defences saw Clough show faith in him in some big games, with his best performance coming in the 3-1 home victory over Derby County in April.

FINAL WORD: Clough has already spoken about Albion's young players getting more opportunities in League One, so Sbarra should be expected to feature even more regularly next season.

It could be an exciting campaign for the skilful 19-year-old.

LIAM BOYCE

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 16

SEASON REVIEW: How different might the Brewers' season have been had this man been fit for its entirety?

Albion broke their transfer record to sign Scottish Premiership top scorer Boyce, only to see him carried off on a stretcher in a pre-season friendly with a ruptured ACL.

The Northern Ireland international worked tirelessly in his recovery to get back fit for February, and played 16 games before the end of the campaign.

By April, he was clearly back to full match fitness and showed it with some brilliant performances against Derby County, Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers, including two crucial goals.

Liam Boyce forces Ben Alnwick into a fine save
Liam Boyce forces Ben Alnwick into a fine save

FINAL WORD: What a weapon Boyce could prove for the Brewers in League One next season. He will be the focal point of their attack and will relish a full season of action.

SEAN SCANNELL

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 18

SEASON REVIEW : A talented winger who had just been promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield Town, Scannell arrived to boost Albion's attacking ranks.

But the Terriers forward would become one of several Burton players affected by niggling injuries that impacted his run in the team.

While Scannell's pace and trickery caused problems in some games - most notably in a fine first-half display against Sunderland - his end product was sometimes lacking, as was his consistency in the side, due to form and those injuries.

Indeed, his loan spell was ended prematurely in January after he suffered a groin problem.

FINAL WORD: Scannell returned to Huddersfield with that injury and made only one further appearance in 2017-18, as the Terriers beat Birmingham City in the FA Cup.

JOE MASON

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: Six

Joe Mason of Burton Albion
Joe Mason of Burton Albion

SEASON REVIEW: Mason could not have asked for a better start to his Brewers loan spell than by scoring a crucial equaliser with his first touch against Sheffield Wednesday.

But that moment in the August sunshine would be as good as it got for the Wolves loanee.

An innocuous back injury stretched into a longer-term problem, before an inflamed appendix forced him into hospital.

That combination of problems saw him feature only twice for Albion after the 4-0 loss to Aston Villa on September 26, and he returned to Wolves in January before heading out to Colorado Rapids on another loan deal.

FINAL WORD: Mason is currently with the Rapids in MLS, having scored twice in his first three appearances for them.

MARCUS DINANGA

LEAGUE APPEARANCES: 0 (loan spell at AFC Telford United)

SEASON REVIEW: After a season banging the goals in for Matlock Town in Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division, Dinanga was tasked with proving his goalscoring credentials at the next level up the football pyramid in 2017-18.

He did just that, finding the net 25 times for AFC Telford United of National League North to help the Bucks to survival and finish as their top scorer.

FINAL WORD: Another successful campaign on loan for Dinanga saw the Brewers take up their one-year option on the striker, who will look to impress in pre-season and could be set for another loan spell at a higher level in 2018-19.