Cup trip illustrates how far Liam has travelled
LITTLE was known of Liam Thompson when he lined up for Derby County in the FA Cup 12 months ago. That is not the case now.
The 19-year-old midfielder has caught the eye in his seven starts for the first-team with his tenacity off the ball and his calmness in possession.
Wayne Rooney has certainly been impressed.
“As good a two games I have seen from anyone from their first two games,” Rooney said in November after Thompson had played against Bournemouth and Fulham in the space of four days.
Thompson helped the Rams to beat Bournemouth and take a point from a goalless draw with Fulham. He also started in the wins against West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, as well as Monday’s 2-2 draw away to Reading, when Derby staged a dramatic late recovery from two down.
Next up for the Rams is an FA Cup third round tie against Coventry City today.
Thompson might stand at the beginning of his professional career but he is no stranger to the competition.
He was in the team that lost 2-0 to National League North Chorley in the third round last season, when Derby’s first-team squad was forced to self-isolate following an outbreak of Covid-19, meaning the club had to field a young side of under-23 and under-18 players to fulfil the fixture.
The team had an average age of 19 and featured five 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old. The oldest was Joe Bateman, at 22, and none of the 19 on duty had made a first-team appearance for the Rams, which meant 14 debuts on the day.
“Full of energy and commitment. Stuck to his task for 90 minutes,” was how Thompson’s performance at Chorley was described in the Derby Telegraph player ratings.
The description pretty much sums
up Thompson’s efforts in the first team this season. Add his ability and neatness on the ball and it is clear the step up has not fazed the youngster. He has adapted to the Championship.
“I’ve surprised myself more with the physical side because that is massive in the Championship,” he told RamsTV.
“I think the West Brom game epitomised that the most. They have big lads, like to play direct and that game showed a different side and I felt like I dealt with it well.
“I’ve certainly surprised myself in that part but playing on the floor, it’s just been second nature because you know you are coming up against people with a similar playing style. I’m surrounded by great players and that helps massively.”
Thompson, whose idol growing up was Barcelona star Andres Iniesta, was playing Sunday League football for Dunkirk when he came through the Rams development centres at 15. He continued his progress through the under-18 and under-23 teams.
“A lot of the boys have come through the Academy system at the club and have been here since they were nine, even younger. When I was picked up it was considered at quite a late age,” said Thompson recently.
“The gaffer has got amazing trust in me and in a lot of the young players, and that’s great. Without that it wouldn’t happen.
“Lee Buchanan, Jason Knight, Max Bird ... I could keep going on, there are numerous players who have come through who I played with at under-18 level.”
Derby go into their FA Cup clash with Coventry unbeaten in four League matches.
“We want to keep the run that we are on going,” said Thompson.
“We are playing well, getting results and also putting in great performances, which is massive. As a squad, you just want to keep going. We don’t change because it’s a Cup game, we just want to get the win and keep winning.”