Walker: "Confidence Is High"

If you listen to a pundit talk football, there is a high chance that you’ll hear them describe a striker as being ‘in the right place at the right time’.

For Lewis Walker, this has been the case in recent weeks, but with two different meanings.

Four players that have occupied the No.9 shirt for Derby County’s Under-23s so far this season departed on loan in January, and that opened up a space for Walker to make his impact after spending large parts of this season on the periphery.

It’s fair to say that he’s taken his chance; scoring five goals in his last three games, as well as impressing with his work rate and physicality up front.

Against Manchester United at St George’s Park last Sunday, Walker finished off a superb team move that included Cameron Cresswell and Alex Babos, as well as goalkeeper Josh Barnes.

Speaking to RamsTV after the 1-1 draw, he said: “Confidence is high for me, it’s a big thing in football and it’s obviously more important for a striker.

“It’s all about momentum, goals are hard to come by but hopefully they will continue to come.”

The Red Devils were dominant in the first half of the Premier League 2 – Division 1 fixture, but Darren Wassall’s side came back strongly after the break to equalise and they looked most likely to grab a winner until Cresswell was harshly sent off.

Walker gave an insight into what was said at the break to inspire the comeback.

He explained: “The coaches told us that they didn’t look like they were going to score, we defended well and we kept them out apart from the penalty.

“They told us that if we kept going, we could get something out of the game, and we did.”

“We did really well to bounce back after the first half, we got ourselves back into the game but we did well not to go under after the red card.”

Next up for the Under-23s is a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, and Walker is sure that the team are up for the fight.

He said: “It’s a massive game and it’s exciting. Last time at Pride Park, everyone was buzzing for it.

“It was a local derby and they beat us and we were gutted afterwards so hopefully we can do a job against them.”