Why Joe Sbarra doesn't want to be 'the one that's coming through' at Burton Albion this season

Joe Sbarra has had his breakthrough campaign with Burton Albion - and he does not want to be seen as "the one that's coming through" anymore.

The 19-year-old academy graduate made 17 League appearances for the Brewers in the Championship last season, including four starts, after making his senior debut on the final day in 2016-17.

Albion are heading into League One with a smaller squad size than they had in the second tier, with Nigel Clough saying youngsters like Sbarra, Ben Fox and Marcus Harness are likely to feature more in the coming months.

That is a chance Sbarra is keen to seize, and his performances in a variety of positions in the Championship show his status as one of Albion's 'up-and-coming stars' could be consigned to the past if things go well this season and he can become an established first-team figure.

"At the end of the day, I don't want to be classed as the one that's coming through - I want to be classed as a regular," said the Burton midfielder, who scored the Brewers' goal in Friday's 2-1 friendly defeat at Mickleover Sports.

"That's what I want to do, I like to challenge myself.

"I want to be the best I can, and I want to prove to everybody that I should be in the team, should be starting every game.

"I've got to play my best and show everybody what I can do, and that's how I'm going to do it.

"Short-term, it's obviously about starting the first game (against Rochdale).

"But ultimately, if I could, I'd start every game of the season.

"It's all about getting the minutes in, showing I'm good enough, showing I'm capable enough in training, that the players and the coaching staff can rely on me to do a good job in the first team."

Sbarra's versatility as a player could help him earn that regular starting slot in League One.

He was used primarily out wide or as a number 10 last season, but played in a holding midfield role in the friendly against Sports.

Unsurprisingly, exactly where he plays is less of an issue to the 19-year-old than the fact that he is on the pitch and influencing the game.

"Just like last year, I played on the wing, I showed I can play in the number 10 and I've showed I can play in the holding midfield role in a game last year," added Sbarra.

"It's all about being versatile.

"I'll take anywhere that I can in the starting line-up, so it doesn't matter where I play - I'm just happy when I play."