Right-back on wanted list but Knight offering boss Rosenior food for thought WILDSMITH
HAVING signed 12 players already this summer, Derby County have been swift and decisive in the transfer market after David Clowes completed his takeover last month.
While the Rams have done the bulk of their business in what has been an impressive recruitment drive, the club is still open to making further additions before the window closes next month.
An experienced right-back had been on the agenda for interim Rams boss Liam Rosenior, particularly after Nathan Byrne left the club to join Charlotte FC in the MLS.
Kwaku Oduroh, who signed on a free transfer in the summer, is now the only authentic right-back in the first-team squad and it was felt that an experienced addition would be essential to his development.
Midfielder Jason Knight has been deployed in that position since the season started but his performances have given Rosenior plenty to consider as to whether adding one to the squad would be worthwhile.
Speaking ahead of the clash against Barnsley this weekend, he hinted the 21-year-old will continue in the role because his qualities match the way he wants his fullbacks to play.
“We’re looking in all different positions,” said Rosenior.
“The more Knighty plays there, he’s making it more difficult for me to bring in a right-back because he’s played really well. He was really good against Charlton and he was really good against Mansfield in a midfield position.
“What I would say about our style of play, and our structure, is it suits midfield players to sometimes play at full-back because we don’t play with full-backs when we have the ball.
“We’re playing a different way, so the actual role suits Jason’s quality. It’s looking at the game in a different way.
“I remember Fabian Delph won the Premier League playing left-back when he was a centre midfield player for Manchester City. You can’t pigeonhole yourself as a player. You’ve got to be able to develop and grow in different roles.
“And I think it’s going to help Jason’s development playing the position he is at the moment.”
The only issue that Rosenior faces is if Knight picks up an injury or is required to move back into a midfield position. It would leave him short on options other than Oduroh who would be accelerated to the first team quicker than most would have anticipated.
While Derby consider whether to add a full-back to the squad, they are also still in the market for a goalkeeper as a back-up to Joe Wildsmith who has established himself as the club’s number one.
When Scott Loach arrived from Chesterfield on a free transfer earlier this summer, he was very much deemed to be third choice, with the former Watford stopper keen on a move into coaching.
Derby are excited by the potential of young Harrison Foulkes and would consider sending the goalkeeper out on loan to continue his development after starring for the
RAMS ALSO LOOKING FOR KEEPER AS BACK-UP FOR
under-23s last term.
Although he has not been named in any matchday squads so far, he has been in and around the first team and travelled to both Charlton and Mansfield.
Some fans have also called for another striker to be added to the squad but James Collins was always the club’s number one target which Rosenior confirmed in his press conference on Thursday.
David McGoldrick is also fit again after missing the start of the season through injury and his return gives extra strength in depth.
Given how highly Rosenior rates both those players, the likelihood of a number nine arriving - and it is a scenario that is not impossible would have to make sense financially given Derby are operating under a business plan agreed with the EFL post-administration.
Besides, Lewis Dobbin has also arrived on loan from Everton allied with the fact that Louie Sibley has started the season well.
Both players are more than capable of playing out wide or through the middle which does give Rosenior some flexibility should there be an injury crisis.
Rosenior did confirm that he held talks with a transfer target on Wednesday having also attended the Coventry City and Bristol City clash in the Carabao Cup.
There has been speculation that Coventry striker Martyn Waghorn is a player of interest to Rosenior only a year after leaving Derby but sources close to the club say this is not the case.