It's a silly pun, that's all. Wayne Brown is a fine professional and his place in Hull City's affections is secure, despite being obviously beyond his namesake manager's requirements this season.
However, I am a tad surprised he has chosen not to continue playing for Preston North End, where he has been on loan, preferring instead to return to the KC Stadium and fight for his place. Sadly for him, his place is in the reserve team's back four, especially once Anthony Gardner ceases to shatter like glass every time someone breathes on him during training.
Brown could have extended his loan, and certainly there would have been little objection from the Tigers had he desired so to do. Michael Turner and Kamil Zayatte are set in stone as our central defence right now, with Gardner seemingly close to recovery - and as a £2.5 million investment, who wouldn't want his return? - and Paul McShane able to flip across from right back if required.
Brown is a good, solid, tough defender, but his lack of pace is crucial when assessing his worthiness. It's unfair and misleading to throw accusations about his unsuitability for the Premier League around on the strength of one game, but he did play against Wigan Athletic and he was culpable on more than one occasion as they rattled in their five goals.
Afterwards, Zayatte had arrived and, once Gardner got his injury, he slotted alongside Turner like he'd been there forever. A language barrier issue hasn't affected the defending unit (although communication with Boaz Myhill has twice left a little to be desired) but ultimately it's clear that there is simply no room for Brown and no plans to create some.
Of course, he may prove a handy stopgap option if two of the central defenders ahead of him get crocked. But that's all he'll be - a stopgap. The Championship suits him perfectly, as Preston have discovered as his stint at Deepdale coincided with a run of 10 points from five games, prior to tonight's match at Derby, his last.
He's now chosen to return. Preston have already said his wages are way beyond their means - this suggests that Brown was given a mighty pay rise under his contractual terms upon winning promotion, therefore becoming a Premier League earner with little chance of actually playing in the Premier League. He deserves his financial reward of course - he was superb alongside Turner all last season - but maybe his over-ambitious declaration that he wants to play regularly in the Premier League for Hull City is influenced ever so slightly by the wedge he'll continue to pick up for the odd stiffs game at Ferriby and a seat in the West Stand on a weekend.
Ultimately, if Nathan Doyle continues to be picked as the defensive substitute for as long Andy Dawson is unavailable, we'll know where Brown really stands. He reckons he'll be away permanently in January, and just as nobody is likely to argue with him, everybody is likely to thank him deeply for what he did do for the Tigers.
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