3/1 To Win
Frank Lampard says Max Lowe remains very much in his long-term thoughts at Derby County.
The 21-year-old left-back today put pen-to-paper on a new three-year deal with the Rams, which will run until the summer of 2021, before linking up with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on loan until January.
Lowe, a graduate of Derby’s Academy set-up after being on the club’s books since the age of ten, started Derby’s opening two league games of the season after impressing during pre-season.
Lampard believes a loan switch north of the border is the perfect opportunity for the defender to gain further first-team match action.
The Derby boss is confident that the England youth international, who spent the second half of last season at Shrewsbury Town, will return to Pride Park Stadium all the better for the experience.
He told RamsTV: “I’m very pleased for Max on both counts and the new contract for him is deserved.
“As a young player he performed very well for us during pre-season and started the first two games.
“He now has the opportunity to go and play at a very good level, under a talented manager that I have a good relationship with in Derek McInnes.
“Max has fantastic potential and it will be a good move for him. He needs regular games and he can get that at Aberdeen – but he is in our plans going forward and he will be a big player for us.”
He added: “It’s up to Max now to go and show the right form to get himself nailed down into the team at Aberdeen, get game time and confidence and then come back to us.”
Lowe is one of a handful of young players to move out on loan during the transfer window.
Forward Luke Thomas will spend the first half of the campaign at League 1 side Coventry City and goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell is at Oxford United until January.
Lampard, who himself as a youngster went out on loan from West Ham United to Swansea City, knows only too well the benefits of a temporary switch for a youngster.
He said: “It will be a great experience for Max and that’s what the modern-day loan system is there for.
“For a young player to go up to Scotland and play at a very competitive level will be good.
“As I said before, I have a good relationship with Derek McInnes and we will keep nice tabs on him from afar.”
