STAND BRY YOUR MAN
Craig’s faith in McClaren will pay off for Rams
STEVE McCLAREN says his key signings this summer were the players who took Derby County to the brink of the Premier League last term.
Among those signing new contracts at the iPro Stadium for the new season are midfield quartet Craig Bryson, Jeff Hendrick, Craig Forsyth and Will Hughes.
In a show of confidence in Derby’s prospects, Bryson turned down the chance to join Premier League new boys Burnley.
The 27-year-old met with Clarets manager Sean Dyche but despite a clause in his contract that could let him leave for just £ 750,000, he decided to stay in the East Midlands and sign a new five-year deal.
McClaren said: “It’s a great boost because we thought we had lost him, but in the end he stayed. It’s like a new signing.”
Keeping highly-rated teenager Hughes is another big boost for the former England boss.
The England Under-21 star has been linked with Premier League sides, including Liverpool, since making his Rams debut in 2011.
But he will also be staying with Derby after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.
“He is a promising young talent and we are looking forward to working with him over the next few years,” said the boss.
McClaren did sign George Thorne from West Brom for an undisclosed fee, although the midfielder was well known to Derby fans after playing 12 matches on loan last season.
Recovery
But Thorne has been ruled out for up to nine months after suffering a knee ligament injury in a friendly with Zenit St Petersburg.
McClaren said: “It is a huge disappointment and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“At the time it looked innocuous and we thought he had just jarred his knee.”
McClaren has also brought in Spanish midfielder Ivan Calero from Atletico Madrid and right-back Cyrus Christie from Coventry.
Christie impressed in yesterday’s 2-0 friendly win over Rangers at the iPro. The 22-year-old gets forward at every opportunity and is developing a good understanding with Simon Dawkins on the flank.
It was Christie’s ball that split the Gers defence and allowed Dawkins to tee up Chris Martin for his and Derby’s first.
Martin sealed the win with his second, beating Cammy Bell after great work from Hughes.