Mon 21 Aug - Posted in News
Gary Rowett believes Tom Lawrence’s arrival has prompted exactly the sort of reaction he wants when it comes to competition for places in his Derby County side.
The 23-year-old forward joined Derby just under a week ago from Premier League side Leicester City to become Rowett’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
The wideman spent last season on loan at fellow Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich Town and starred for the Tractor Boys, prompting interest in acquiring his services from a number of clubs.
With his signing secured ahead of last week’s 1-0 home win over Preston North End, the onus was on Andreas Weimann and Johnny Russell to perform with Lawrence watching on from the stands.
They both delivered with lively displays and deservedly kept their places for Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Bolton Wanderers, with Lawrence watching on from the bench.
Weimann and Russell were again in good form, with the latter setting up David Nugent’s second goal at the Macron Stadium with a fine run and cross.
The reaction from the duo has been exactly what Rowett wants from his players, along with with a drive and determination to not only do well, but keep their place in his side.
He said: “You want players with a motivation and desperate desire to do well.
“I think we have seen that that with our wide players in the last few games with Andi Weimann against Preston and Johnny Russell against Bolton at times.
“We’ve brought Tom Lawrence in and if they (Weimann and Russell) want to stay in the team, they have to play well. If that (Lawrence’s arrival) gives them a bit more drive to go and play really well, so be it.
“It was tempting to start him at Bolton but maybe it would have been unfair on Andi and Johnny.
“It’s always my preference to have someone to put pressure on people to keep performing and the ones in the team know they have a player breathing down their necks.
“In terms of the competition for places, you hope that’s the case right through the team. We want it right through the pitch, from the goalkeeper to the strikers.
“The standards are really high and that’s what we have to demand every game and every day.”
Rowett admits he knows it’s a challenge to keep every single player happy in his squad.
Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth started the first two games of the campaign before reverting to the bench and the Derby boss, using them as an example, insists their time will come again.
He said: “It’s about the team.
“I am sure Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth are disappointed, for example, not to have started the last few, but it’s up to them to make it impossible to take the shirt off of them.
“There will be a time, whenever it is, they’ll have their shirt back and it’ll be down to them again.”
