Reading win has given the Rams big decisions
DERBY County manager Wayne Rooney has some “really, really difficult choices” to make as Phil Jagielka and Sam Baldock come back into contention for the visit of Swansea City today.
Jagielka missed the midweek win at Pride Park against Reading, while striker Baldock was substituted at half-time and replaced by Jack Stretton. The move was taken as a precaution, said Rooney after the game.
Rams assistant manager Liam Rosenior did not rule either player out of featuring against the Swans and said they “haven’t made a decision” yet on either player.
Goalkeeper Kelle Roos’ return from suspension makes for another tough decision for the Rams boss.
“They’re touch and go,” said Rosenior of Jagielka and Baldock.
“We haven’t made a decision on the team yet. Jags (Jagielka) is another one that we felt if we left him out on Wednesday, it gave him more chance of being 100% fit for this game.
“At the same time, Richard Stearman came in and played really well. Jack Stretton, when he came on for the second half, played really, really well.
“So they’re actually really, really difficult choices for us to make and, hopefully, we make the right ones to win the game.”
Rosenior has praised the fitness, as well as the attitude, of the players in getting the Rams through challenging times for the club.
“When you come to watch us train every day, the players are unbelievable. Their work ethic in training,” he said. “They know they have to work at their maximum for us to achieve that.
“We had five players break their personal best in terms of high speed running and sprint distance over their time at the football club. I’m talking about some players that have been for eight years broke their personal best in terms of how hard they worked against Reading to get that win.
“So we know our fitness is there and we know our motivation is there, now we need to make sure we stay consistent in how we work.
“We’ve challenged them to now beat that personal best two days later. Can you do it again? Can we play with the same energy and intensity?
“That’s our job, to motivate players by getting them to perform at a level that maybe they don’t even think they’re capable of.
“That’s Wayne’s job, that’s my job, and we believe in them and we’ll continue to believe in them.
“And I think there’s a real sense of belief in the city at the moment, backing these players because everybody in the city knows that what we’re representing at the moment is bigger than just three points.
“It’s about the pride, it’s about the dignity of this unbelievable football club with amazing history and tradition and I’m really proud to be a part of it in really, really difficult circumstances.”