Hamer: “It’s A Tough Schedule But The Lads Love Playing Games”

Games come thick and fast in the Sky Bet Championship. Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Wednesday; the schedule can be testing and gruelling.

However, for Derby County goalkeeper Ben Hamer, he loves the cut and thrust that the division brings with it.

It is the competitiveness that he thrives off, and he is not daunted by the run of fixtures the Rams face in the next month.

Due to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay against Northampton Town, following the goalless draw at the PTS Academy Stadium last week, Derby have nine games to play between now and the end of February.

With the matches coming in a short space of time, there is huge opportunity to pick up a lot of points and continue the momentum which the Derby have built up in recent weeks.

They are currently seven games unbeaten in all competitions and Hamer is concentrated on utilising the hectic schedule to the Rams’ advantage.

“I love playing games,” he told RamsTV. “It’s better when the games come thick and fast and you’re involved in it because you get the rhythm.

“It’s a tough schedule but the lads love playing games so I’m sure a big amount of the lads in the changing room can play three games in seven days so I have no qualms about that.

“It’s just about not picking up injuries in that time frame and if we come out of it unscathed then we can look towards it positively.”

Hamer gained his place in Derby’s starting XI in the 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers at the end of November and has grasped his opportunity with both hands.

Whilst he had to wait a while to earn his first clean sheet for the club, which came against Hull City in the Rams’ last Sky Bet Championship fixture, which ended in a 1-0 home win, Hamer has impressed everyone at Pride Park Stadium.

He has produced big saves when needed and kept a calm head in pressured situations to help the Rams steadily climb the table.

The on-loan Huddersfield Town shot-stopper is enjoying his time with Derby and is enjoying the healthy competition around him.

“I hadn’t played a lot of football previous so it was always going to be one where I needed to get my rhythm and find my feet a little bit,” he said. “When you haven’t played for a long time, it takes times to get to grips with things but I’m enjoying it.

“I’ve got into the swing of things now and long may that continue. I’m not taking anything for granted. Not just Kelle, but we have a lot of people pushing and we keep each other going in training and get the best out of each other.

“It’s always been a positive group; even when Kelle was in the squad, I was always positive, helping him out and getting the best out of him and it’s been no different since I’ve been in the team.

“He has been brilliant and so has Shay and the other goalkeepers. There is a real good dynamic in the group and things are looking really healthy.

“You want to play and get in the team, but ultimately if the other guy is playing, you want the team to do well. If the team does well then you’re doing well so that’s a big part of it.

“When you are younger, it’s harder but once you get older and more experienced then it’s all about the team doing well.”