Is Kyle Knoyle the leagues best right-back?

As the football season draws ever nearer its final stages, the inevitability that is the end of season awards becomes an ever-present discussion amongst football fans around the country.

And whilst Swindon Town’s main focus still remains on making the playoffs, Kyle Knoyle will be hoping to pick up the individual accolades after a fantastic season of impressive performances. But is he the best right-back in League Two? Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his analysis.

In a season of mixed emotions for Swindon Town fans, Kyle Knoyle has perhaps remained the only constant positive in a side that has seen player’s leave, managerial changes, and new signings arrive at the County Ground. 

But despite the majority of the STFC players struggling to consistently perform to their best, Knoyle has rarely put a foot wrong. 

Joining on a free transfer in the 17/18 season after being released by West Ham, the versatile defensive player has gone on to make a total of 62 performances for the Robins, starting from the bench just once this season. 

However whilst the statistics are a big enough testament to how much the attacking full-back has progressed during his time at SN1, you only have to look at the praise received from his teammates to understand just how much Knoyle is valued at the club. 

Often being described by STFC manager Richie Wellens as the best one-on-one defender in the league, Knoyle is undoubtedly the first name on the team sheet and never appears to produce anything but a solid performance on the right side of Swindon’s four-man defence. 

With Wellens wanting to play quick, free-flowing attacking football, the 22-year-old has to constantly be on the move whether in attack or defence. 

When Swindon go forward with the ball, the right-back has to burst forward, create width and provide overlapping runs for Kaiyne Woolery. And when Town aren’t in possession, he has to drop deep, protect the right flank and not allow runs in behind. 
Having to alter so frequently between attack and defence throughout each match highlights the demands put on Knoyle throughout the course of the game, and after a rocky start to his Swindon career, the youthful defender has certainly proved his worth. 

Fulfilling the role of a right-back will never be the most glamorous role amongst the eleven on pitch players, but Knoyle is certainly making a name for himself amongst journalists and pundits alike who flock to League Two stadiums around England every weekend. 

As Richie Wellens starts his rebuilding process for next season, Kyle Knoyle is certainly one player who the Swindon manager will look to keep but after a fantastic individual season other clubs around the country are certain to target the defender whose contract expires at the end of the season.