Five new loan stars settling in to life at Derby
DERBY County’s five new loan signings have been at the club a week and have been talking about their hopes for the remainder of the season.
Defenders Teden Mengi and George Edmundson came in from Manchester United and Rangers, striker Lee Gregory from Stoke City, midfielder Beni Baningime from Everton and winger Patrick Roberts from Manchester City.
Roberts joined City for a reported fee of around £12m in 2014 and he spent the first half of this season on loan with Middlesbrough, where his opportunities were limited. He has a successful loan spell with Celtic on his CV and he is hoping to bring his experience to the team.
“I spoke to the manager (Wayne Rooney) over the phone and he was positive about me and positive about Derby,” Roberts told Ramstv.
“He wanted me to just come and enjoy it, do well for myself and do well for Derby as well.
“At Middlesbrough, I was struggling to play and, being on loan, I had the option to look at things in January if it wasn’t going how I expected.
“I got a message about Derby and I just wanted to play football again. I spoke to the manager and there was only one place I wanted to come.
“I am 24 but I feel like I have been around ages. It is good, it’s a young squad so I can bring that experience with me. Playing those games you learn what football is about and how to handle games.
“I have been in the Championship for the last year, so I know how it is and I will bring that to the team.
“Training here is very intense, very positive, and fun. It’s everything a player can ask for going to a new club.”
Baningime trained and played alongside Rooney at Everton and the 22-year-old is impressed with the “togetherness” in Derby’s squad.
“There is a real fight in this team. There is real togetherness in the group,” he said.
“I am a fighter and a guy who works hard for the team. I get around the pitch and when I am on the ball, I like to keep it ticking. That is my playing style.”
Edmundson and Mengi are looking to make an impact in the coming months.
“I had a chat with a few people (about Derby) and everything that came back to me was really good and really positive,” said Edmundson.
“Normally with loan moves, certain players just look to get game time, but I am not treating it like that. I am here to play and show what I can do, not just get minutes.
“I obviously want to improve but I am here to play good football and show what I can do. Now, at 23, I feel like I need to be playing week-in, week-out and show what I can do.”
Mengi impressed in Manchester United’s Under-23 side last season and the 18-year-old is highly-rated at Old Trafford.
“I think I did well in the under-23s last season so I think I need a new challenge,” he said.
“I am a fighter with a willingness to defend and a ball-playing centreback and vocal as well. I am ready to kick on and this is a brilliant opportunity for me.”
Gregory, at 32, has bags of experience in the Championship, a division in which he has scored plenty of goals.
“It (Derby) is a big club - a great club, great manager, a great set of lads,” said Gregory.
“The fans can expect hard work (from me), a team player and, hopefully, someone that scores goals. I just give everything I can for the lads on the pitch. That is what I am going to do.”