Youngsters giving Roo grounds for optimism at Rams
BOSS CONFIDENT AS HE PLANS FOR LEAGUE ONE
WAYNE Rooney says there are plenty of reasons for optimism for Derby County despite their relegation to League One.
The Rams will play in England’s third tier next season for the first time since the 1985-86 campaign after finishing second from bottom in the Championship.
Asked whether he is optimistic about the future, Rooney told Rams TV: “I am confident and optimistic.
“We have brought in a lot of young lads far sooner than we should have. The experience they have gained over the season is huge for them and the club.
“Moving forward, we have a real group of young players who have built toughness, togetherness and mentality which we can build on over the next couple of months to create a squad which we feel can get us straight back up.
“We are working on this and waiting for things to happen still but we are confident and when it (the takeover) does happen, hopefully, we can go working things out.
“We need to add to the squad and bring staff in, too, but we will do what we can to get that right and move this club forward.”
Rooney added: “We have beaten top teams in the league and I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to look at the differences in salaries and squads of those teams.
“Through organisation and hard work we have been able to compete.
“Liam Thompson made his debut against Bournemouth at home and that was a massive moment for him, I thought he was the best player on the pitch.
“He then played against Fulham away and again was very good. Eiran Cashin and Malcolm Ebiowei have been fantastic since they have come in too, Malcolm coming from the under-18s, by-passing the 23s into the first-team.
“So many of the young lads have been fantastic. At the start of the season Festy Ebosele was getting released, so there are so many positives to take but, ultimately, it was too much to ask to get over the line.”
A NUMBER of clubs are reported to be interested in signing Derby County captain Tom Lawrence.
According to the Daily Mail, Lawrence could be a target for both Fulham and Bournemouth, who claimed the two Championship automatic promotion spots this season.
Norwich City and Watford, who have been relegated to the Championship from the Premier League, have also been linked, while the report says
Burnley, Everton, Leeds United and Belgian side Anderlecht are interested, too.
Lawrence has spent the past five seasons at Pride Park but the skipper’s current deal is set to expire this summer.
DERBY County senior advisor Steve Mcclaren looks set to join Manchester United at the start of next season as the Red Devils’ new manager Erik ten Hag puts together his backroom staff.
The Dutchman will take over from Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford at the end of the season after leaving Ajax, with Rangnick moving to an advisory role at the club. Various reports claim that ten Hag has specifically requested that Mcclaren is part of his backroom staff.
The former England manager is currently in a part-time consultancy role at Pride Park after stepping down as technical director when the club went into administration in September.