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Most Improved defenders in League Two 26/27

The most improved defenders in League Two in 26/27, ranked on Field Insider.

Most improved goalkeepers in League TwoMost improved midfielders in League TwoMost improved attackers in League TwoBest defenders in League TwoMost in-form defenders in League TwoTop-scoring defenders in League Two

At a glance

J. Stephenson of Crewe is the standout for raw talent across defenders in League Two, with a Field Insider Rating of 71.8, and B. Cooper has been the form player this season, grading 33.5, and Lewis Shipley leads the scoring with 3 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: J. Burroughs has improved his Season rating most, up +22.4 on last season, while K. McFadzean's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +5.7 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, E. Turns of Exeter City is the most valuable name in this group at 6.

Best talent
J. Stephenson71.8RTG
Crewe
In form
B. Cooper33.5SsN
Salford City
Rising potential
K. McFadzean+5.7RTG
Chesterfield · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
J. Burroughs+22.4SsN
Northampton · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
Lewis Shipley3goals
Barrow
Most valuable
E. Turns6val
Exeter City
50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1J. BurroughsFull-backNorthampton25+22.4
24/25→25/26
26560%392.6%
2C. DunkleyCentre-backChesterfield34+20.5
24/25→25/26
29244%106.6%
3J. FitzwaterCentre-backExeter City29+19.2
24/25→25/26
3219.7%3212.2%
4E. TurnsCentre-backExeter City24+18.4
24/25→25/26
33124.3%412.4%
5Joel McGregorFull-backSwindon Town20+16.1
24/25→25/26
28132%334.5%
6D. SkuraCentre-backWalsall24+15.3
24/25→25/26
21491.7%422.4%
7B. CooperCentre-backSalford City26+15
24/25→25/26
3481.1%3031.1%
8C. McCarthyFull-backNorthampton28+14.8
24/25→25/26
24170.1%3117.5%
9A. McGowanFull-backPort Vale30+8.6
24/25→25/26
2648.3%1940.8%
10J. SweeneyFull-backGrimsby24+8.2
24/25→25/26
2212.9%32±0%
11L. GibsonFull-backHarrogate Town29+8.1
24/25→25/26
13172.3%1811.7%
12J. WillisCentre-backNorthampton32+7.4
24/25→25/26
14121.3%1729.4%
13D. DanielsCentre-backOldham32+7
24/25→25/26
977.4%16±0%
14K. McFadzeanCentre-backChesterfield39+6.6
24/25→25/26
1455.3%9±0%
15Lewis ShipleyCentre-backBarrow22+6
24/25→25/26
11127.7%317%
16J. ConnollyCentre-backWalsall24+6
24/25→25/26
2010.6%342.7%
17L. BillingtonFull-backCrewe22+5.8
24/25→25/26
228.1%37±0%
18J. Lawrence-GabrielFull-backPort Vale28+5.7
24/25→25/26
1823.8%3412%
19B. PurringtonCentre-backBristol Rovers30+3.9
24/25→25/26
1734.4%198.6%
20E. BristowFull-backHarrogate Town24+3.8
23/24→25/26
1437.3%2713.3%
21T. MullarkeyCentre-backFleetwood Town30+3.7
24/25→25/26
1924.3%1651.7%
22A. SmithFull-backGillingham25+3.4
24/25→25/26
1546.2%322.5%
23P. FarquharsonFull-backCrawley Town29+3.1
24/25→25/26
660.9%20±0%
24B. HeneghanFull-backPort Vale33+2.5
24/25→25/26
2511.2%1610.9%
25J. SimpsonCentre-backChesterfield29+2.3
24/25→25/26
1241.2%308.2%
26D. HallCentre-backRotherham25+1.6
24/25→25/26
1057.9%42±0%
27L. OffordCentre-backCrewe26+0.6
24/25→25/26
2432.6%333.1%
28S. RooneyFull-backFleetwood Town30+0.4
24/25→25/26
1714.4%17±0%
29L. CassCentre-backHarrogate Town26+0.3
24/25→25/26
142.2%2512.8%
30D. MatthewsCentre-backAccrington ST26+0.3
24/25→25/26
132.3%2320.4%
31W. BurrellCentre-backHarrogate Town36+0.2
24/25→25/26
171.2%81.2%
32C. RaglanCentre-backBarrow33-0.1
22/23→25/26
160.6%1255.3%
33K. BalmerFull-backBristol Rovers26-0.8
24/25→25/26
158.2%298.1%
34C. NormanFull-backNewport County31-1.2
24/25→25/26
214.6%1921.9%
35T. JamesFull-backBristol Rovers30-1.5
24/25→25/26
169%269.1%
36S. RaggettCentre-backColchester33-3.1
24/25→25/26
442.9%726.7%
37F. PotterCentre-backFleetwood Town22-3.3
24/25→25/26
165.8%32±0%
38J. TuckerCentre-backColchester26-3.6
24/25→25/26
676.8%32±0%
39K. CameronCentre-backNewport County29-4.3
24/25→25/26
2129.8%2418%
40J. TomkinsonFull-backCheltenham24-4.4
24/25→25/26
484%32±0%
41T. LeesFull-backHarrogate Town35-5
24/25→25/26
1623.5%1038.3%
42W. BoyleFull-backShrewsbury31-5.7
23/24→25/26
1068.1%2112.6%
43M. BenningFull-backShrewsbury32-6
24/25→25/26
1233%1065.3%
44O. BecklesCentre-backGillingham35-6.4
24/25→25/26
2593.1%649.6%
45A. AdeyemoFull-backCrawley Town24-6.6
24/25→25/26
571.2%29±0%
46C. McJannetCentre-backGrimsby28-6.8
24/25→25/26
2046.7%309.4%
47A. MacDonaldFull-backBarrow34-6.9
24/25→25/26
654.8%858.4%
48H. RodgersFull-backGrimsby30-7.6
24/25→25/26
1946.1%25±0%
49J. GuthrieCentre-backNorthampton34-8
24/25→25/26
116.7%10±0%
50E. MooreFull-backNorthampton29-8.3
24/25→25/26
1026.8%24±0%