Bristol City assistant Curtis Fleming believes Zak Vyner is rediscovering a belief in his game that is rewarding him with a consistency he failed to maintain last season.
The Robins defender's reemergence in the side has been one of the biggest surprises of the season after his future at the club appeared all-but over heading into the summer. The 25-year-old has started every game and despite a difficult showing in the 3-2 defeat at home to Sunderland, Vyner has been largely impressive, particularly in the victories over Luton and Cardiff.
The complexity of failing to sign another central defender has played a part in Vyner's comeback into the side although manager Nigel Pearson has made it no secret of his desire to bring in another player at the back if the opportunity arises.
With the transfer window remaining open until September 1, there is still the scope for City's defence to change if they can raise transfer cash but nonetheless, Vyner is continuing to keep his team-mate Timm Klose out of the side for the time being.
After keeping a second consecutive clean sheet, Fleming believes Vyner deserves his run of games after working hard to prove his worth.
He said: "We’ve called out for it, we don’t hide. Everything you see, we see, and he sees. He knows that he needed that little bit more consistency, but I think sometimes it’s a belief.
"I said to him when he came back for pre-season, he’s still a Bristol City player. If he’s doing well enough when we need to win a game, he’ll get a game that’s what it is. We’re not saying that we’ve brought a player in so he's here to replace you, we’ll play the best player.
“Lads have stood up and have taken their chances; Tommy Conway and Zak Vyner. But as I said to him at the end of the game there, fantastic, but again it’s consistency.
"Happy days, brilliant (same on) Wednesday. Wednesday, happy days, (same on) Saturday we go again and there’s no doubt he has the ability. He’s a brilliant athlete and he’s doing brilliantly but we don’t get too carried away.
"I think Kane Wilson’s been unlucky not to get in, but Syksey’s done so well at wing-back and we brought him in, he’s had a great pre-season. Kane hasn’t had the opportunity to get into the team, so you’re in there on merit.
"Everybody talked about him going out of the club, he is in the team on merit. We’re not being nice, he’s a lovely lad but he’s always a lovely lad. He’s working hard this pre-season after getting in."
Individual errors have been Vyner's Achilles heel and it saw him fall out of favour in Pearson's plans last season with the expectancy that he would be one of the names to leave Ashton Gate this summer. Robbie Cundy's decision to turn down City's contract offer and sign for Barnsley may have influenced the decision to keep Vyner at the club while Nathan Baker is unlikely to play again this season and Tomas Kalas remains hampered by injury.
Pearson has stuck to his word after handing Vyner his opportunity while admitting Klose was not at his best in pre-season. He said following the opening day defeat at Hull: "I can’t talk in terms of saying everyone has a chance to impress and if they do, they can't play and then not be as good as my word. Timm’s probably not been at his best in pre-season, but I’ve got no worries about Timm coming in and doing really well so it’s just one of those things.
“Zak had in some ways a disappointing end to the season, but I think it’s also an indication that when players work hard, they will still get their opportunity."
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