U23 & U18 Premier League Preview - Episode 17: Derby County
It’s bad times at Derby County right now. Not only are they forced to have Wayne Rooney as their manager but the club are subject to a transfer ban because of discrepancies in their finances for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Derby have just thirteen registered players and one of those, Jason Knight, was injured by his own manager during training and will miss half the season.
Knight, however, may be an inspiration that Derby will look to use to make it through this season. Signed from Cabinteely in 2017, Knight came through the youth system and has established himself as a regular in midfield to date making seventy-four appearances in the Championship at just twenty years’ old.
Derby have done a good job of developing their youth talent in recent years. Along with Knight has been the successes of Lee Buchanan, Max Bird and Louie Sibley - all regulars who came through the structure of the club. If the EFL do not relent on a player registration ban then plenty more will be asked to step up for the Midlands club this year.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Alfie Roberts |
| CB | Jordan Brown |
| CB | Harrison Solomon |
| RB | Kornell McDonald |
| LB | Dylan Williams |
| CM | Liam Thompson |
| CM | Connor Dixon |
| CM | Olamide Ibrahim |
| RW | Louie Watson |
| LW | Tyree Wilson |
| CF | Jack Stretton |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Harvey Randle |
| CB | Filip Lissah |
| CB | Eli Christie |
| RB | Rhys Brailsford |
| LB | Riley Moloney |
| CM | Courtney Clarke |
| CM | Dubem Eze |
| CM | Cian Kelly |
| RW | Marko Borkovic |
| LW | Luke Plange |
| CF | Malik Mothersille |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Festy Ebosele
- Position: RB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Irish
Ireland U21 international Festy Ebosele is a defender with a real chance of making the right back position his own this year. Current first team right back Nathan Byrne is likely to be transitioned into central defence leaving the pathway clear for the fantastically named Irish prodigy. Ebosele is a modern wing back, a weapon coming out of defence mostly due to his athleticism and pace. With few other options likely to emerge, Ebosele should have plenty of opportunities this year.
Jack Stretton
- Position: CF
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Scottish
Stretton is a prolific Scotland U19 international. The centre forward grabbed eight goals in twelve appearances for Derby’s U23s and then went on loan to National League side Stockport, scoring three goals in five appearances. Now back with Derby, the Scotsman looks set to become a much bigger part of the squad with only Colin Kazim-Richards a recognised striker in the first team. Stretton has featured for Derby in small cameos and, despite an injury ruling him out for much of pre-season, is said to have impressed Rooney across his time at the club. As the type of player who was likely to make a breakthrough anyway, Derby’s precarious situation will likely only accelerate an already inevitable first team promotion.
Eiran Cashin
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Irish
A no-nonsense style defender, Cashin is a Scottish youth international that Rooney describes as “knocking on the door”. If true, it is likely that door is about to fly wide open with Derby having only one recognised senior centre back - Andre Wisdom - currently on the books. Nothing fancy about the way Cashin plays but he does his job effectively, getting physical with centre forwards and heading away everything that comes towards him in the air. He has impressed in preseason, even managing to get on the scoresheet in a friendly at Notts County, and while reinforcements are likely to be brought to the club Cashin will surely be able to find his way onto the pitch on a semi-regular basis.