Three promising young Derby players are evaluated by FLW as they move forward and have the potential to save the team millions of dollars.
Derby has gained some notoriety in recent years for its academy production line, which has included actors like Max Bird and Louie Sibley as well as Tom Huddlestone and Will Hughes in the past.
The team still has a feeling of experience, but here we look at some of the younger players who, if they can maximize their potential with Derby, might save them millions over the next few years.
Derby County, who finished seventh under Paul Warne last season, is still a League One team for the second year in a row.
A 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on League One final day in 2022/23 was all it took for the Rams to fall out of the top six and miss out on the play-offs.
Their preparations for this summer were influenced by their inability to get promotion at the first attempt, but things appear to be looking well for Derby despite missing out on that opportunity. Under David Clowes, they have stable finances, and the point deductions are behind
they as well. They were finally allowed to go forward under a new administration after Clowes assumed control as the club’s principal shareholder.
Richard Stearman, James Chester, Curtis Davies, David McGoldrick, Krystian Bielik, and Jason Knight, among others, have all left the Rams this summer.
To reinforce their ranks for a subsequent promotion drive, they have also been active in bringing in new players and have signed Callum Elder, Curtis Nelson, Josh Vickers, Joe Ward, Sonny Bradley, Martyn Waghorn, and Tyrese Fornah, among others.
Derby has gained some notoriety in recent years for its academy production line, which has included actors like Max Bird and Louie Sibley as well as Tom Huddlestone and Will Hughes in the past.
The team still has a feeling of experience, but here we look at some of the younger players who, if they can maximize their potential with Derby, might save them millions over the next few years.
Dajaune Brown
Although Derby’s aging forward line could prove to be successful this season, it remains a concern for the long future.
Warne’s forwards are all at least 30 years old, with the exception of Tyreece John-Jules, who is on loan from Arsenal, therefore the Rams’ top priority for next summer and beyond must be to upgrade that position.
But in 17-year-old Dajaune Brown, they might have a player who can take the place of Conor Washington, Martyn Waghorn, and James Collins.
In the summer, the club signed him to a three-year contract in recognition of his outstanding potential. He also made his professional debut in the EFL Trophy. If he can start to live up to his potential, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him play more frequently in the near future.
If Brown succeeds in becoming a valuable EFL striker, Derby may end up saving millions over time.
Jake Rooney
Next is a defender, with young Jake Rooney, who just lost to Bolton Wanderers, sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee and being out for a “significant period” of time.
The 20-year-old, who is the cousin of Manchester United and England captain and former Rams manager Wayne Rooney, has made 21 appearances for the team so far and is obviously a promising player.
After graduating from Burnley’s academy and signing a new three-year contract in July, Rooney joined the Rams in August 2022. Despite the setback, he has a lot of promise and could potentially succeed Cashin as of the upcoming season. This term, he would have preferred to play in more first-team development games, but that opportunity will come.
Darren Robinson
Robinson signed his first professional deal with Dungannon Swifts in January 2021 after moving to the team from Portadown in 2019. However, he spent time working out with English teams Fleetwood Town, Stoke City, and Derby County right after that season.
As a late replacement against Glenavon in May 2021, Robinson made his first-team debut for Dungannon Swifts. Two days later, it was reported that Robinson had signed a three-year professional contract with Derby.
Robinson played often for the U21s and the senior team during the 2022–23 season, both times in the EFL Trophy. The Northern Irishman then committed to the team by signing a professional contract that runs until June 2024. As the next player in line to play a significant role for the senior team, League One is a wonderful environment for him to advance his career.
If Robinson’s growth continues, he might replace Connor Hourihane and Korey Smith, two older midfielders who cost the Rams a lot of money.
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