Lee Glover: 'We Need To Push On From Successful 2014'

Senior Professional Development Coach aiming to get more players in Steve McClaren's first team over the coming year

Senior Professional Development Coach aiming to get more players in Steve McClaren's first team over the coming year

AFTER ANSWERING their first question in the second half of 2014, Derby County’s Under 21s will have another one to answer in 2015.

Last year proved to be a highly successful one for Lee Glover’s side. The Under 21s adapted to life that came with their newly achieved Category One Status sweetly and go into the New Year unbeaten in their last seven games.

More importantly for Glover, though, is the fact that four of his players made their debuts in Steve McClaren’s talented first team squad.

Kelle Roos has featured three times this season in goal, whilst Ivan Calero has been a regular in the matchday squad at times this campaign and Alefe Santos and Kwame Thomas have also made their first team bow.

This upcoming year is all about taking the next step now. It’s about more of Lee Glover’s players leaving an impression not just with him, but McClaren and the rest of his coaching staff who are regular onlookers when it comes to their fixtures.

“The players have improved, that’s self-improvement, but they have improved as a team as well,” Glover told dcfc.co.uk.

“People forget that we have had four of our players make their debuts for the first team in recent months.

“We have had Kelle Roos come through the building; we have had Ivan Calero, Alefe Santos and most recently Kwame Thomas.

“Farrend Rawson has been on the bench, whilst Jamie Hanson and Max Lowe have also been involved. It’s very, very good.

“At the start of the season, we wanted to be able to compete at this level and we have shown that we can compete.

“We need to be at our maximum to try and compete at this league and show we are worthy of this status.

“Now we are saying can the lads push on again? They need to perform well for the Under 21s to get into the first team squad.

“All the coaching staff are at most of the games and they just need to keep impressing to break into what is a very talented first team squad we have here at Derby County.”

Whilst many consider going out on loan imperative for a young player’s development, Glover admits it could be more beneficial for his young stars stay within the Rams’ camp.

He points to the schedule that he and his side have coming up – starting with the Under 21s Cup fixture with Sunderland this coming Thursday.

It is a schedule that is giving his players the chance to test themselves against the best in the country in their age group.

This year is just the next step in what is a bright future for Derby’s stars of tomorrow.

“We’re very happy with the progress that has been made within the group,” he added.

“We might have a couple of lads go out on loan to gain experience, but we have got such a good batch of fixtures that it might be a case that the players we have got are best served here.

“The Under 21s match programme is very, very good. We have got great games to look forward to against Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and that includes our next game against Sunderland.

“It’s always hectic here. It’s constant, but it is enjoyable. We will push on the better scholars who will join us and we will have them training with us from now until the end of the season.

“We need that continuity, but in terms of progress, we just want to build on what was a great year last year.

“Whilst it has been a great year for the first team, the Under 21s and Under 18s have also had great years and the future, as we keep saying, is very bright.”

Look out for our full interview with Lee Glover ahead of Derby County Under 21s' Cup clash with Sunderland next Thursday across dcfc.co.uk.