He may have enjoyed an impressive season at the back for Burton Albion, but Tom Naylor's departure will hit the Brewers midfield too.

Naylor will leave Albion when his contract expires at the end of the month to join League One rivals Portsmouth on a three-year deal.

It brings to an end his three-and-a-half-year association with the Brewers, much of which was spent at the heart of the Albion midfield.

He began life as a holding player - a role that looks likely to be his again at Fratton Park.

Tom Naylor
Tom Naylor

Towards the end of Albion's successful push for promotion into the Championship, and at the start of their debut second-tier campaign in 2016-17, he then showed a tidy positional sense to score some vital goals in an Albion shirt - and his midfield energy earned him a few more of those during a profitable festive period last season.

With Burton struggling for defensive consistency at the start of 2018, Naylor was moved back to centre-half, where he thrived alongside Kyle McFadzean.

That coincided with the arrival of Jacob Davenport into the Burton midfield, as well as a place back in the side for Hope Akpan.

The pair became regulars in the centre, eventually forming a partnership with Luke Murphy that proved crucial in the Brewers' belated, and ultimately futile, surge for Championship survival.

Now, with Albion's attentions turning to 2018-19, two thirds of that midfield trio are no longer with the club.

Davenport is back at parent club Manchester City and Murphy has returned to Leeds United to see if he can break back into the Whites setup.

Naylor, too, has left for Portsmouth.

Akpan is still a Burton player, although he is out of contract at the end of the month.

He was offered a new deal last month, alongside Jake Buxton, Lloyd Dyer, Harry Campbell, Damien McCrory and Naylor.

There has been no confirmation as yet about the former Blackburn Rovers man's decision and whether he will be lining up for the Brewers come August.

As with all of Albion's out-of-contract players, Burton are keen to keep hold of him after a string of influential performances towards the end of last season, with Nigel Clough saying they would do "everything we can to try to get him to stay".

Clough has highlighted the way Akpan links up with Liam Boyce, surging forward and past the combative striker to get through opposition defences and into dangerous areas.

That would be a valuable attacking weapon in League One, as would his eye for a pass and general drive in possession.

Hope Akpan battles away
Hope Akpan battles away

A couple of goals and a handful of assists in the final month of the season outlined the Nigerian international's threat in the final third.

It remains to be seen whether those midfield displays have piqued the interest of other clubs, in the second tier or the same division as Burton.

Akpan's decision over his future will be an important one to the Brewers - and it has perhaps become even more crucial following Naylor's departure.

While Naylor would likely have been earmarked for a defensive role again next season had he stayed - Clough believes that is his best position - he would have offered a versatile midfield option too.

Jamie Allen leads the warm-ups at the Cardiff City Stadium
Jamie Allen leads the warm-ups at the Cardiff City Stadium

But his exit leaves only Akpan, Jamie Allen and Matty Lund as players at the club to have started a Championship game in central midfield for Albion.

Ben Fox is another central option, while Joe Sbarra has featured there at times but seems better suited for a more attacking role as a number 10 or out wide.

Clough knows it is an area that may well need addressing.

"I think central midfield, with losing Luke Murphy and Jacob Davenport and potentially Hope Akpan, that's the main area that we need to look at," he said last week.

"Jamie Allen is primed to have a good season, so he'll be in there.

"We just need some help for him in there."

Targets will have been identified and enquiries made in central midfield.

Albion would be interested in a return move for Davenport if possible, although his performances last season may have sparked interest from Championship clubs over loan deals.

They have also been linked with Scott Fraser, who is now a free agent after leaving Dundee United. He scored six goals in 32 appearances last season.

The future of Akpan, though, could hold most significance for the Brewers and how their midfield will look next season.