International flavour in the latest step of Brewers' journey
Marc Fox
Despite their recent run of promotions from the lower reaches of English football to the heady heights of League One, England's third tier, it's still not every day that a former England and Real Madrid player graces the turf at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium.
And while Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate, who also counts Leeds United, Newcastle United and Tottenham among his former clubs, didn't get off to the most auspicious start in his side's 2-1 over Burton in the Capital One Cup last night by playing a role in George Friend's own goal for the home side, he ended up on the winning team thanks to Christian Stuani's brace.
Although Stuani, who represented Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa America, is arguably the bigger name, it was the appearance of Woodgate as well as another ex-England international in Stuart Downing that served to reinforce the progress made by Albion over the past decade.
Burton, nicknamed the Brewers because of the Midlands town's rich brewing heritage, have earned the right to mix it with such current and former internationals by virtue of winning the League Two championship last season under the guidance of ex-Premier League hotshot Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
That promotion was the club's third in 14 years, which has seen them move not only from playing in the Southern League Premier Division but also from their dilapidated ground to a quaint new purpose-built stadium on an adjacent plot on the outskirts of the town.
Hasselbaink, a former Middlesbrough striker himself, has followed on the heels of other notable young managers in cutting his coaching teeth at Burton.
The club's initial progress from the non-league was achieved under Nigel Clough, son of Brian who left Albion in 2009 to manage Derby County and then Sheffield United.
Further progress was then made by Gary Rowett, who left last year with Burton flying high in League Two, paving with way for Hasselbaink to arrive and continue Rowett's good work to clinch promotion to League One for the first time in the club's history.
Their start to life in League One has also been impressive, with three wins out of four leaving the Brewers in the playoff places, and despite the extra-time defeat, Hasselbaink was delighted with his side's efforts against Championship promotion-hunters Middlesbrough.
"I've praised them because they played really well," he said. "I thought we were really well organised and when we had the ball, we were dangerous and putting them under pressure."
"We were difficult to break down and I thought the lads did themselves proud."
Burton have even started to recruit senior internationals of their own, with Luxembourg striker Aurelien Joachim signing in the summer.
Joachim, who was most recently playing at Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, has made 51 appearances for his country.
But despite a strong playing squad, the priority with this forward-thinking club is to keep Hasselbaink, who has already been linked with a return to Leeds United since taking change 10 months ago.
His vision and tactical nous are considered to be crucial if Burton are to achieve the unthinkable a decade ago and move into the Championship.
© Marc Fox & Soccerphile.com
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