Malone aiming to pay Rowett back for offering lifeline
DERBY County defender Scott Malone says he wants to do everything he can to pay back Millwall boss Gary Rowett after being given a fresh chance at The Den.
On loan with the Lions, Malone’s Rams contract is up at the end of the season and he is one of several Derby players whose deals are due to expire at the end of 2020-21.
With loan players George Edmundson (Rangers), Teden Mengi (Manchester United), Lee Gregory (Stoke City), Matt Clarke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Patrick Roberts (Manchester City) and Beni Baningime (Everton) all returning to their parent clubs in the summer, too, the Rams will see a large turnover of players when the season finishes.
Along with Malone, Curtis Davies, Colin Kazim-richards, Andre Wisdom, Martyn Waghorn and keeper Emmanuel Idem are set to leave the Rams in the summer unless new deals are negotiated.
Plus, Jonathan Mitchell, Scott Carson and Florian Jozefzoon, who are also out on loan like Malone, will be out of contract.
Malone was sent to Millwall by former Rams boss Phillip Cocu, who made the call in August before he was sacked.
With Lee Buchanan holding down the left-back spot at Pride Park this season and Craig Forsyth as back-up, Malone was allowed to link up with former Rams boss Rowett at The Den.
And Malone has impressed in the capital, the left-back scoring his second goal in five games in the 4-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
It was a fine goal too, as he flicked the ball over Callum Paterson before volleying home.
“It’s one of the best of my career,” said Malone.
“I just texted my uncle. He did remind me of the QPR one for Millwall – the 89th-minute equaliser. But that just tops it.
“I’m keeping my head down. My game is running up and down, being busy. I need to keep going now. I’m not thinking too far into the future.”
On securing a deal at The Den at the end of his Rams contract, Malone added: “I am out of contract in the summer but I want to do everything to pay the manager back, really.
“He brought me in and gave me a lifeline. I didn’t play much at Derby.
“I just need to stay in the team – that’s my mentality.”
George Evans made his debut for Millwall in the win against the Owls following his move from Derby on deadline day.
Duane Holmes made his first start for Huddersfield Town at the weekend since he joined the Terriers from Derby County in the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old midfielder is back at the club where his career began.
His second debut for Huddersfield came as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Stoke City at the end of last month but he started Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Morgan Whittaker signed for Swansea City on deadline day and the 20-year-old forward was an unused substitute in the Swans’ 2-0 home victory over Norwich City on Friday night.
Midfielder Isaac Hutchinson and striker Jahmal Hector-ingram went out on loan during the window.
Hutchinson has been an unused substitute in Forest Green Rovers’ last three matches after making his debut in a 3-2 defeat away against Tranmere Rovers last month. Forest Green’s game away against Mansfield Town at the weekend was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Hector-ingram was not involved in Stevenage’s 2-2 home draw against Morecambe.