Jeff Hendrick set to be given a breather for Derby County game against Birmingham City
JEFF Hendrick's dip in form could see him handed a breather when Derby County take on Birmingham City in Saturday's televised Championship clash.
The 20-year-old has started 16 of the 17 League games but he has struggled to reproduce the level of performance he showed last season when he won the club's Young Player of the Year award.
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Jeff Hendrick
Hendrick had a tough afternoon against leaders Crystal Palace last weekend and manager Nigel Clough has hinted that the youngster might be taken out of the firing line.
"We either persevere with him or there is a chance he might come out and have a little breather," said Clough.
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"At 20, we could possibly do more damage leaving him in there.
"He had a great first season but he is struggling a bit this season. We are reminding him of all the things he did well last season and he has got to get back to doing those things.
"Last season, he was getting about, getting tackles in and making forward runs. He was a lot more assertive on the pitch than he has been this season, and we want him to do that again.
"It was about his strength, power and running and he just seems to have lost his edge in that area a little bit.
"Confidence plays a huge part. Look at Palace last week. They looked fitter and sharper. They're not but that's how it can look after 13 or 14 matches unbeaten.
"Second seasons are tough for young players like Jeff because everyone knows a bit more about you."
Clough uses Palace striker Glenn Murray as an example of how a player's fortunes can fluctuate.
"He could not get in Palace's team last season and I think he scored six League goals," said Clough.
"He's got 15 this season, and he's having a purple patch.
"How old is he? 29? Players even at that age have ups and downs."
Derby are set to revert to 4-4-2 against Birmingham, having lined up 4-4-1-1 in the 3-0 defeat by Palace at Selhurst Park.
"We will try to get two back up front for the home game," said Clough.
This would leave a four-man midfield.
If Hendrick drops out, Will Hughes and Craig Bryson would be the likely partnership in central midfield with Paul Coutts on the right and Michael Jacobs could keep his place on the left after a lively display against Palace.
Derby say striker Jamie Ward will probably be out for another week.
Ward has missed nine games with a hamstring injury and he is not available to face Birmingham on Saturday and probably Cardiff City on Tuesday.
"We have had him scanned again and there is a small problem there. He can run at a certain pace at the moment but, unfortunately, he can't sprint and go flat out," said Clough, who admits the injury has taken longer to clear up than they had hoped.
"We thought at the time it was only a strain and would take a few weeks but you never know with hamstrings," added Clough.
Comments
by JohnZFish
Monday, November 26 2012, 12:19PM
“I'm all for the youngsters being given a breather, so we don't burn them out. That's what a squad is for.”
by ibelieveido
Saturday, November 24 2012, 2:13PM
“Brayford for a start.
Now seen as a real find .
Bucko no matter what you think, is proving to be the
type of player that can inspire,his performance against
the Red bogs alone giving him the Rams' Hero ' tag...
Bryson,many a champ manager would pay over the odds for him right now.
Hughes to a certain extent .
Ward too when fit has proved how right Nige was to bring him here ,Sheff/utd
had failed him but we have revived his football,he has openly stated how N.C
has proven to be the best thing that has happened to him in recent years...
Hendrick last year proved what a good player he can be,he will come good again
under Clough...
And thats just for starters...
A good list of excellent young players are with us and have joined D.C.FC since N.C
came.............
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT...THE FUTURE IS CLOUGH.
NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULT TONIGHT.”
by Tadley-Rams
Saturday, November 24 2012, 11:30AM
“Ibeileveido - just for my sanity, please list the lower league players that he has unearthed that are real gems now, Buxton, no, Jacobs, not yet, Coutts may be your only one.!!!!
Come on the Rams, please please put a performance in.”
by Tadley-Rams
Saturday, November 24 2012, 11:26AM
“Paul - you at right, I did say he was the right kind of player we needed, big strong, winning knock downs etc, i went on what Clough told us what he would bring to the team, shame we don't play in and around him, he keeps drifting out wide, which I can't get my head round.”
by ibelieveido
Saturday, November 24 2012, 11:12AM
“So Sad-Tad ,N.C deserves massive credit the amount of players
he has brought in from lower divisions, and unearthed some REAL Gems ay.
I will say AGAIN you will be proven wrong re Sammon,starting today.
Or tues ....lol.”
by paul72
Saturday, November 24 2012, 9:11AM
“No manager gets every signing right look at billy Davies Claude davies Shaun teal and Andy Todd get real when Nigel is having to sign lower league players most of the time he will get it wrong sammon is worst signing yet although you said he would b a good signing at the time expert tadleyrams!!!”
by Tadley-Rams
Saturday, November 24 2012, 8:34AM
“Paul -so it is not Cloughs fault when players are not good enough?? Of course it is, he brings them in, he manages them, he trains them. And on the flip side, when he brings good players in and they get better he would deserve credit.”
by paul72
Saturday, November 24 2012, 12:46AM
“no one wants davies or doyal stimac cloughs been forced into situations which makes him look bad but its the board with there unrealistic wage bill that forces him into these problems doubt any manager could do much better”
by derwentx
Saturday, November 24 2012, 12:10AM
“P S For the record Hendrick is 20 years old, not 18, and if a twenty year old can't play 15 or so games without being 'burnt out' then god help us. In truth he has lost a bit of form, nothing more serious than that. All young players go through it, its part of the learning and maturing process. To read the comments from Stimac he is ready for the knackers yard, talk about a gross over reaction!”
by derwentx
Saturday, November 24 2012, 12:05AM
“What is this fixation with Bailey? He is hardly setting the world on fire in league one, he is average at best. Is it just stick to beat the manager with? If necessary Coutts can play in central midfield, whats the big deal?”