FINNAN IS THE BEST RIGHT BACK IN THE PREMIERSHIP

By Mighty Reds
February 23 2006

Alan Hansen has hailed the performances of Steve Finnan, and declared him ‘the best right back’ in the Premiership at the moment.

Steve Finnan has made the right back position his own under Rafa Benitez and Hansen believes he deserves more recognition than he has received.

He said:

"Steve has shown a massive improvement over the last eighteen months or so. I can't think of a better right back in the Premiership at the moment," the former Liverpool defender told LFC Magazine.

"The way he's been playing all season has been outstanding but he's a relatively unsung hero.

"You only have to look at his performances on a weekly basis to see how good he is now. I always thought Finnan was good on the ball but he's dramatically improved defensively since he's been at Liverpool.

"That defensive improvement also brings the best out of him when he's on the ball because of the confidence factor.

"If you go back to the start of last season when Carragher was switched to centre half, it looked like right back could be a problem position. Not any more it doesn't.

"Finnan has got to take all the plaudits for that because sometimes, when people aren't sure about you, it can transmit to a player and they sink. The opposite has happened to Finnan. He's grown in confidence and is now playing better and better and better."