‘There’s A Team Dynamic Developing’

Gary Rowett is convinced there’s a ‘team dynamic’ developing in his Derby County squad.

Following the conclusion of their pre-season programme against Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, the start of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season is in sight.

Derby will get the new campaign off and underway with a trip north to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Friday night (7:45pm kick-off).

Rowett, 43, was appointed as the Rams’ manager back in March and he oversaw nine games at the end of last term.

Now, having had a full pre-season to further stamp his authority on the squad and make changes to the playing staff, he is pleased with the progress that his side has made in the lead-up to the new season.

He told RamsTV: “I am really pleased with the way that the players have come together; there’s a team dynamic developing.

“I have seen spells in games where we have stuck together, been really compact and worked incredibly hard.

“In every game we have created quite a few chances which is also pleasing – but we want to take as many of those chances as we can and composure comes with a little bit more match time.

“The players look fit and sharp but you can’t replicate that same type of running you have in the proper games; we’ll see and feel it on Friday night and face that challenge.

“I am pleased so far. It is easy to judge without the games starting and I can only look over the last six weeks, which have gone well.”

He added: “We have been pretty miserly from a defensive aspect and given very little away, although we know on the whole we haven’t played a lot of teams in pre-season that will be up to the level we’ll face in the Championship.”

Rowett, naturally, is encouraged by the fact his side were able to create good goalscoring opportunities in each friendly game during July.

However, he feels his side need to be more ruthless and has also stated on a few occasions he is keen to add to his attacking options before the transfer window.

He said: “I think, at times, we haven’t quite found our feet or form from an attacking point of view during pre-season.

“I have had pre-seasons where we’ve scored lots of goals and then, once the season starts, it becomes pretty difficult to put the ball in the net.

“We have created chances though, which is encouraging.

“We have had a strong look to us and if we can add that other side to it, we’ll be a much better team.”