Luke set for more after Rams debut
DERBY County manager Wayne Rooney says Luke Plange will get more game time now the striker is eligible to play for the first team.
He was included in the squad for the first time after productive talks between Derby and the EFL resulted in an agreement being reached that allows the player to be selected.
Plange impressed on trial last season and joined the Rams on a oneyear professional deal in the summer having been part of Arsenal’s under-18 set up.
Derby were under a transfer embargo at the time Plange signed for the under-23s, making him ineligible for the first team.
Rooney recently called for a change to the situation, saying: “I can’t use him [Plange] for embargo reasons which I don’t understand, if I am being honest. We are denying a young player an opportunity which he deserves to come into the firstteam.
“I don’t get it, I really don’t. It is disappointing and upsetting for him and for his family.
“If I was a parent of that player I would really think about taking the player out of the football club because there is no progression.
“Is that what really we want to see? No, it’s not. So something needs to happen, something needs to change, and quickly.”
The situation has now changed and Derby heard on Thursday that Plange could be involved against Bristol City on Saturday, when he went on as a substitute for his debut.
“He was due to play for the U23s last night (Friday),” said Rooney.
“We have been pushing with the EFL and we managed to get him available, which is great.
“I thought he did well when he came on, I thought he was positive, carrying the ball he did well. We are pleased to have him in the squad and he will get more game time.
“He moves well, he is quick and works hard. He is aggressive in terms of winning the ball back and he can score goals.
“Of course, it is different at this level and like all the young players I will have to protect him as well but if you can get him anywhere around the box he is capable of scoring.”
Rooney was disappointed with the Rams’ first-half performance in their 1-0 defeat by the Robins at Ashton Gate. The Rams trailed at the break after Alex Scott fired the home side ahead in the 16th minute.
City had chances to extend their lead and although the Rams improved in the second half, it was City who collected the three points.
The gap between Derby and safety in the Championship is now 20 points.
Rooney was not happy with the opening 45 minutes.
“I said to the boys at half-time I didn’t recognise them in the first half. That’s not how we want to play, it’s not the intensity we are trying to build in this team - sloppy on the ball, not quick enough to second balls,” said Rooney.
Derby made two changes for the second half, sending on strikers Colin Kazim-richards and Plange.
“We made two changes, it could have been any of the starting 11. I felt it was the right decision to make the changes to try and get more intensity and get two lads up top on, but it was disappointing in the first half.”
Rooney also mentioned the warm-up before kick-off.
“I spoke to the lads before the game, the warm-up today wasn’t good,” he said.
“That is the second time this season, that is Bristol and Blackburn at home, where we have come out and we haven’t started well. So it shows how important it is to get the warmup right to go into the start of the game.”
The Rams remain on one point at the bottom of the table and needing an incredible escape act if they are to avoid dropping into League One for next season.
“It is important we put the last two games to the back of our minds,” Rooney added. “Obviously, as staff we will go through it and try and find out the reasons why and try and get ready for next week because we have to be better than we were today.”