clough keen to recruit

[Rodders]

http://www.therams.co.uk/news/Clough-keen-recruit-season-opener/article-2454296-detail/article.html

[vicky-27]

DERBY County manager Nigel Clough would still like to strengthen his squad before the new season starts in less than two weeks' time.

"I think we have got room for a couple of players," said Clough, whose team kicks off against Leeds United at Elland Road on August 7.

The Rams have lost forward Steve Davies for at least six months with cruciate ligament damage and it will be six weeks into the Championship campaign before midfielder Stephen Pearson has recovered from his knee surgery.

Centre-backs Jake Buxton and Miles Addison are also sidelined.

Buxton has not featured in pre-season after undergoing an operation on his groin and Addison might not play this season following surgery on his foot.

Clough's squad is already down in numbers compared with the size of squads Derby have had in past seasons.

"We are a bit light with the injuries we have at the moment, so we would like to strengthen," he said. "Ideally, we can do that before the season starts but if it is going to be a loan, then we do have until the end of August.

"We are making enquiries all the time about players on loan from Premier League clubs, so we will keep asking and keep making the calls."

Clough feels the squad still lacks a pacy forward.

"We have got a bit of pace with right-back John Brayford and the likes of Tomasz Cywka and David Martin but it was crying out in the first half against Chesterfield for somebody to run beyond and it (pace) is still something we are lacking," he said.

Eighteen-year-old American forward Conor Doyle has played as a triallist in all four first-team friendlies.

He started the games at Bournemouth last Wednesday and Chesterfield on Saturday, and Clough is keen to follow up his interest in the player, as he told the Derby Telegraph last week.

"It has been a tough week for Conor and he looked a bit tired against Chesterfield but we have been impressed with him," said Clough. "He is at college in America and it is really about whether he wants to give that up and have a go at professional football."

Another of the triallists, 21-year-old striker Amari Morgan-Smith, has returned to Ilkeston Town but Clough has been impressed by him.

"He has gone back to Ilkeston at the moment," said Clough. "Amari is a young, raw striker with a bit of pace and he is somebody that, if the deal was right, then we would like to do something with him."

Hhhm college in America or be a professional footballer ? does it really take that much thinking.

[GboroRam]

Its an odd situation for an American - they gear their sport around college, where football's youth setup expects kids of 15-16 years old to be breaking into the big time.

[GboroRam]

"We have got a bit of pace ... and it (pace) is still something we are lacking," he said.

Talks a lot of sense, that Cloughie.

[Perky1106]

Its an odd situation for an American - they gear their sport around college, where football's youth setup expects kids of 15-16 years old to be breaking into the big time.

We should do that here. Colleges in the US compete with each other and it's taken as seriously as professional leagues.

The facilities in American colleges are superb too.

If British Universities could get private investment to build stands etc on campuses then a competitive league system could be made in which young people can learn how to play football with scholarships.

[Boycie]

You having a laugh aint you?

Kids can't drink untill they're 21 in Yanksville.

Our students are too interested in getting pissed up.

GERRRRRRRRRRRRAPROPERJOB!