3/1 To Win
Andreas Weimann has set his sights on making sure he is ready for first team action following the international break after completing his first full 90 minutes of the season.
The 25-year-old Austrian international started in strong looking forward line – also containing Nick Blackman, Johnny Russell and James Wilson – as Derby County drew 2-2 with Doncaster Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday evening.
Weimann struck an equaliser with a looping header on the cusp of added time to secure a point, before Rovers won 4-3 in the penalty shootout to claim the extra point at stake at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Speaking after the game, the forward labelled the meeting with Darren Ferguson’s side as a ‘great test’ as he bids to regain full fitness.
Weimann told Rams Player HD: “It was my first 90 minutes of the season so far so it was really nice to get out there and get that under my belt and to cap it off with a goal too.
“The aim now is to keep building that fitness up over the international break and making sure I am ready to play with the first team.
“Doncaster have been flying in their league so it was a good test, especially for the younger players that played in the game.
“It was a great test for all of us and for myself it was also good to get some competitive action.”
Assessing the game itself, he added: “When you come down from the first team, it’s always important to help the younger lads out as much as you can.
“The back four did really well as there was a lot of pressure put on them, especially in the second half.
“It was an open game, there was a lot of chances for both sides, but I think a draw at the end if a fair result.”
>Weimann, as well as Nick Blackman and Callum Guy, converted his penalty kick at the end of the tie against Doncaster.
Putting that aside, he was keen to look at the bigger picture and believes Derby’s young side deserved to take a point from a game against a side that is flying in Sky Bet League 2.
Weimann said: “I hadn’t taken a penalty in a while so it was good just to see it go in. It was unfortunate that we lost that, but looking at the bigger picture the result on the whole was a good one considering how well they are doing and how young our side was.”
