Sat 16 Mar
Time to read: 1min
Defender gains another international call-up.
Derby County’s Valentin Gjokaj has received his second call-up to the Albania U21 squad.
The 19-year-old Swiss-born defender, who has started the Rams’ last two matches at right-back, has been called up to take part in a mini-tournament in Austria next week.
Albania have matches pencilled in against Azerbaijan U21 on 20th March, an Austrian League outfit on 23rd March and Georgia on 26th March during the international window, before returning to Derby in time for the game against Bristol City on 29th March.
Gjokaj gained his first cap for Albania’s U21s last month by playing the full game in their 0-0 draw with Macedonia.
Since joining Derby from Swiss side FC Luzern for an undisclosed fee in August, Gjokaj has made three first-team appearances for Derby, and made his debut on the opening day of the 2012-13 Championship season as a late substitute in the Rams’ 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
The majority of his action has come for Derby’s Under 21 side and he spent some time on loan at Carlisle United during November and December, where he made a single substitute appearance, before returning to Pride Park.
