Jamie Hanson stressed the importance of heading into the Christmas break with a positive result as Derby County’s Under-23s get set to take on Arsenal on Friday night.
The game at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park is the final fixture of 2017 for Darren Wassall’s side in Premier League 2 – Division 1.
Following last season’s fight against the drop down to Division 2, this term Derby have made huge strides and they sit comfortably in mid-table thanks to some impressive results, including wins against Manchester United, Liverpool and West Ham United.
Hanson hopes that the form can continue, and he believes that a win away at another Premier League giant will give the side added belief for 2018.
The midfielder told RamsTV: “We’ve got to finish strongly, the season has started well so hopefully we can get the win.
“There’s a great set of lads here and I think this is the year where we’ve started to hold our own against the bigger clubs.
“The lads will be able to take a lot of confidence forward if we manage to pick up the three points against Arsenal.”
With January fast approaching, the last fixtures before the break could provide an opportunity for the players on the fringes of the first-team to put themselves in the loan shop window.
For Hanson, the ultimate aim is to work his way back into Gary Rowett’s thinking, although with the side in terrific form, he admits that it will be a tough ask.
He said: “It’s another big club, there will be a lot of people watching, so hopefully some of us can put ourselves on the map for January.
“The lads are flying at the moment so it will probably be a long time before I can get myself back in there but the gaffer has just told me to keep my head down and hopefully I’ll get my opportunity soon.”
Hanson, a graduate of the Rams’ academy system, was in attendance on Wednesday night as the Under-18s knocked Manchester United out of the FA Youth Cup on penalties.
The 22-year-old picked out two names in particular that impressed in difficult conditions against elite opposition.
He added: “The lads were a credit to the club, Manchester United are a big club but we’ve done well in the Youth Cup in recent years.
“A lot of players impressed last night and the Youth Cup is the main competition where you want to do that.
“I thought Jayden Bogle played very well, he’s had a couple of games with the Under-23s, Henry Wise made a good impact when he came on as well.”
