Berner arrived at City in September 2008 – at the second time of asking after initially failing a medical and then undergoing knee surgery.

He proved to be a versatile addition to the squad during the League One title-winning campaign, filling in at left-back, centre-back and in midfield.

He once joked: “I’ll even play in goal as long as I get in the team.”

But this season, he has proved his worth with a string of solid performances, particularly his tackling which has been precisely timed, as you would expect from a native of Switzerland.