Thu 22 Nov
Time to read: 2mins
Defender joins League 1 side on loan until January.
Defender joins League 1 side on loan until January.
Derby County’s Valentin Gjokaj has today joined League 1 side Carlisle United on an emergency loan deal.
Gjokaj’s spell with Greg Abbott’s side will run up to and including 2nd January 2013 and it is expected he will be in line to make his debut for the Cumbrians in their away fixture at Yeovil Town on Saturday.
Carlisle are currently 19th in League 1 and sit two points above the bottom four, having lost their last three games in succession.
Manager Nigel Clough said: “This is a good opportunity for Val to get to grips with the rigours of first-team football in England, and we see this as an important part of his development.
“Val has impressed us since he initially came in on trial during the summer and he’s done well for our Under 21 side too; so going out on loan to get first-team football is the next step for him.”
The 19-year-old Swiss central defender joined the Rams on a two-year deal from Swiss club FC Luzern on the eve of the 2012-13 season, after he impressed during a pre-season trial.
Gjokaj has made one first-team appearance for Derby, which came on the opening day of the 2012-13 Championship season as a late substitute in the Rams’ 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
He has however remained part of the first-team squad as an unused substitute for large parts of the season and he has also worn the Captain’s armband for Derby’s Under 21 side in the U21 PDL 2 North.
