'Playmaker's EFL 72': #69 Freddie Woodman

With the current campaign entering its final straight, Playmaker has again overstretched in undertaking the task of ranking its top 72 players from across the EFL. 

Those who followed 'The Playmaker 72' last season know the drill: this is less a countdown of the 'best' footballers across the EFL, more a celebration of those to burn brightest in the Championship, League One and League Two throughout 2022/23.

To once again paraphrase the great Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, these are just, like, our opinions, man - and we will do our utmost to back up them up with facts, stats and analysis. 

A young English stopper, who knows how to keep a Championship clean sheet, is up next.

Number 69: Freddie Woodman (Preston North End)

Having spent over nine years with Newcastle United, Freddie Woodman joined Championship side Preston North End on a permanent deal last summer.

During his time with the Magpies, he made just four Premier League appearances but still gained a reputation as one to watch after an impressive two-year loan spell at Swansea City. 

Since moving to Deepdale, the 26-year-old has been in sparkling form, and if the Lilywhites succeed in their quest for a play-off spot, he will have played a pivotal role for them. 

Let's kick off with Woodman's key statistic: the number of shutouts he has kept in the Championship this season. In total, he's recorded 17 clean sheets which means only Coventry's Ben Wilson (18) and Luton's Ethan Horvath (18) having clocked up more. 

Since his move to Swansea back in 2019/20, only Premier League giants Ederson at Manchester City and Alisson at Liverpool have kept more clean sheets than Woodman across both the Premier League and Championship, highlighting that this season is the norm rather than the exception with him between the sticks.  

Woodman also holds the record for the longest consecutive minutes without conceding a goal across all top flight and Championship shot-stoppers in 2022/23, the North End goalkeeper going a remarkable 646 minutes unbeaten in the early part of the season. 

Despite attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, the former England U21 international will currently be focused on a singular goal: helping Preston reach the top flight for the first time since 1960-61.

Playmaker's EFL 72...the countdown

69: Freddie Woodman

70: Will Collar 71: Anis Mehmeti 72: Ibou Touray