3/1 To Win
Youngster Louie Sibley was understandably thrilled to make his league debut for Derby County at the weekend – but he’s well aware there’s plenty more hard work ahead of him.
The 18-year-old midfielder came off the bench in the second half of the Rams’ Sky Bet Championship clash at Reading on Saturday.
Sibley, who joined Derby’s youth set-up over ten years ago, has progressed right through the Academy system.
He featured in the Carabao Cup clashes at Scunthorpe United and Nottingham Forest back in August and is one of four Academy products to make their first-team debuts this season.
Sibley’s consistently impressive performances for the Rams’ Under-23s earned his latest opportunity and he is determined to continue his journey with the club.
The England youth international knows he needs to continue to work hard to impress and earn the trust of manager Phillip Cocu and his coaching staff in training to feature more in the future.
Reacting to making his league debut, Sibley told RamsTV: “It was amazing to make my league debut. The manager and staff just told me to enjoy it and to remember your first Championship appearance.
“I made my first-team debut earlier in the season but to get my first chance in the league was really good for me, even though it was unfortunate result.
“Hopefully more chances will come my way. When I play for the Under-23s I know the first-team staff are always watching so I have just got to keep performing and training as well as I can.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity because I have been at the club from the Under-7s. I have seen the pathway into the first team; it has been amazing.
“As soon as I knew I was on the bench at Reading I messaged my family and I couldn’t stop smiling, I was literally buzzing. For the last couple of games, I have been ‘19th man’ and I was eager to get on the bench if I could.”
He added: “I am just really hungry for first-team football, like any young player. I am working every day and I know I have got to keep going to prove to the gaffer and staff I am ready if called upon.
“I am still young and I know they have to realise that they can trust me to play. For me I have just got to keep working hard to do that.”
Fellow Academy youngsters Jason Knight and Morgan Whittaker have been in-and-around the first-team for most of the season.
Sibley says manager Phillip Cocu’s outlook to give youth a chance provides a great opportunity for all of the Rams’ up-and-coming prospects in the Academy.
He said: “Knighty started the other day and he has been playing in a couple of games recently and Morgan has been in and around it too.
“All the youth players know that if you train well and you play well then the manager could pick you. We are all hungry to keep playing, to keep training well and we have all got the opportunity there.”
He added: “It is just whether we take it or not, so we all have to keep working hard. If there is a chance due to injury or anything, we have got to make sure to take that opportunity.”
