Rams loan roundabout about to start

The January transfer window has only been closed for 10 days, but Rams boss Billy Davies expects a number of Derby County players to be leaving Pride Park on loan.

The Rams squad has been strengthened with seven new signings last month and fierce competition means players, who are not going to battle for a first team spot, are likely to depart to find first-team football.

Davies said: “One or two clubs are showing interest in some of our players and there certainly will be players going out on loan between now and the end of the season for a month or two, or with a view to a move. The Rams coach was coy about the players involved, but he said: “Without mentioning names, there are a number of players who may feel they need to go out and get some games.”

Davies has always said he wants competition for places at Pride Park, but he has to weigh up the situation as the Rams don`t have a reserves team for the fringe players to play in. That will change next season, but in the meantime players could move on and some of them being mentioned are goalkeeper Lee Camp, full-backs Paul Boertien and Richard Jackson and 18-year-old centre-back Lewin Nyatanga.

Camp is third choice behind Stephen Bywater and Lee Grant and was at Norwich City for three months earlier this season. The right and left back position are being keenly contested and both Boertien and Jackson face tough competition for a starting berth. The unfortunate Boertien impressed during a run of nine starts this season before picking up another knee injury on Boxing Day. He is almost back to full fitness, but the form of Mo Camara and the inclusion of Jay McEveley from Blackburn Rovers, means both are ahead of him in the pecking order.

Jackson’s chances in the right back position have been restricted by Marc Edworthy’s excellent form and now with Tyrone Mears arriving on loan from West Ham United for the rest of the season, Jackson could look elsewhere to gain some first team experience.
McEveley can also play at centre-back and this could see Nyatanga loaned out again, the Welsh international had a spell at Sunderland this season and has not started a league game for Derby since the defeat by Colchester United in August.

Wide players at the club where in a minimum, but Davies has brought studiously, with Gary Teale and Craig Fagan looking impressive and Giles Barnes also having a run down the flanks. This means Ryan Smith could benefit from a short-term loan. The 20-year-old last start was in the victory over Sheffield Wednesday in September. Also there is Lee Holmes has had loan stay at Bradford City until picking up an ankle injury, but once fit, the winger is another youngster who will need games.

Another name being mentioned is Seth Johnson, with a plethora of midfielders signed he may look elsewhere, but he has said he wants to stay and fight for a spot. This is something Davies likes to hear from his fringe players.

Derby have been linked with a loan move for Ipswich Town’s wide player Darren Currie this week but Davies says he has no plans to bring anybody in to the club at present.
But he never ruled it out saying: “If something comes up and it is mouth-watering and we think it would be a great addition, then we would look at it.
“If we pick up an injury or two we may have to look at it but, at the moment, we have great competition for places and the plan is to get these players together and ready for the next 15 matches or so.”