John Eustace reveals what he told Derby County young guns amid rare but 'great' opportunity
by Leigh Curtis · Derbyshire LiveJohn Eustace believes Derby County's young guns have benefitted from their time with the first-team squad and says it is crucial for the club to develop its own players.
Derby had to turn to the academy to help fill the squad for pre-season, and 13 players joined the first team for training.
Injuries and the fact that the transfer window had yet to open meant Eustace had to look to youth, which has led to some getting valuable minutes alongside senior pros. In midweek, Lennon Wheeldon came off the bench against West Brom and almost scored in an impressive cameo, while academy graduate Dajaune Brown started at the Hawthorns.
Isaac Gordon and Freddie Turley also featured in the club's friendlies, while striker Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu scored a terrific goal in a friendly at Solihull Moors.
Derby are excited by some of their academy prospects, but Eustace says it is also a reminder of where the club is currently at in terms of the squad and feels nobody should be getting carried away with their predictions for the season.
"When we came back for pre-season, I think we had 11 or 12 first team players and then we had 13 academy players training with us for the whole six weeks," he told DerbyshireLive.
"I think with the pre-season games that we've played, I think we've had that set 11 or 12 first team group being involved as starters but then we've given really good minutes to the other 13.
"It's been great to see Lennon Wheeldon develop. It's been great to see Charlie develop, Isaac develop - all of those players, Freddie - whoever's come in to the group have staked a claim and done very well.
"When I first came in, I met with the academy. I said this is a great opportunity that you wouldn't get at most other clubs.
"I told them there wouldn't be this many first-team players not available, or the squad wouldn't normally be this small, going to any other club. I said to all 13/14 of you training with us every day for six weeks that this is a great opportunity for you. I've been really pleased with their efforts and their development.
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"I think a club of this size and the history of bringing the players through here is there for everyone to see. It's really important now that we get back on that and we start developing our own young players again.
"I thought Dajaune Brown, for his first competitive start for us in around six months, possibly did well. You can see that he's short, but the only way he's going to get better is by training and playing with us.
"Lenny did exactly the same. I was really pleased with Lenny. It's a shame he couldn't get his goal. He had a great chance, but that's part of his development.
"I think that's where, as a group, as a fan base and the media have to realise where we are at the moment at this exact stage and not get carried away with predictions of where we're going to finish and whatnot.
"It's a long season. There are going to be lots of highs, there's going to be lots of lows, but the most important thing is that we stick together.
"This Derby County family that we're trying to build now is one where we're all on the same page and hopefully over the next two or three seasons we can bring real success to it."