Rams boss Clough grateful that Johnson can boost side
DERBY County manager Nigel Clough believes Lee Johnson's Championship experience will boost the Rams squad after the midfielder arrived on loan yesterday.
Johnson has joined the Rams from Bristol City initially for a month, taking him up to and including the Championship fixture against Nottingham Forest at Pride Park on January 30.
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"Lee is a very good footballer, who knows the game inside out, is experienced at this level, versatile and works extremely hard for the team," said Clough.
"These are the qualities we are looking for."
Johnson, the son of Bristol City manager Gary, goes straight into the Rams squad for today's FA Cup third round game against Millwall at the New Den.
He will wear squad number 19.
This season, Johnson has made 13 starts and a further five appearances as a substitute for Bristol.
"Lee is a terrific player and gives us some much needed cover in the midfield positions," added Clough, who told the Telegraph that he had made seven or eight inquiries about signing players on loan this week.
"We are grateful to Bristol City for allowing him to come and also allowing him to feature in the FA Cup tie.
"We have lost a few players with some of our other loans expiring, as well as a number of suspensions and injuries, so it's vital to get some fresh faces in quickly."
City manager Johnson said: "At the present time we felt it was a good idea for Lee to go out on loan and get some games under his belt.
"He's been ill for a week or so and wasn't playing an awful lot of games before that, so this is a good move for him to get some match action for a month.
"We had four or five clubs inquire about Lee but it was Derby that he opted to join. It's Championship football and it's a good loan deal for him."
7 Comments
by clob, chester green .Derby
Saturday, January 02 2010, 7:55PM
“Cheers for that steve. If memory serves me correct ,whenever I've seen him play either against us or on telly . I've alwaysed been impressed.
No matter the reasons he has joined us at our mighty club. He should consider himself very lucky . As we are the biggest. Club he is ever gonna play with and should grab his chance with both hands . Just like the fester loan'ees .
Don't mean no disrespect by that comment. But we are a bigger club than both bristol clubs combined and even tho our team is playing bad and our league standing looks bleak.
Jhonson should be buzzing that he will be playing infront of 30k plus and this is his time to step up . IMO .
Good signing. If that lad can step up and hold is bottle in front of our crowd.”
by Steve, Bristol
Saturday, January 02 2010, 7:32PM
“Probably our most consistent player over the time he has been with us.
A portion of the home crowd 'experts' curiously never allowed themselves to appreciate him as he is the manager's son. Always felt he plays his best for us away from home as away supporters more likely to get behind their team when a goal down.
Oivotal player. Much of the traffic fed through him, which is why the naysayers latch on to his mistakes, and fail to applaud the way he reads the game and distribute the ball effectively.
He appreciates the supporters more than they appreciated him - was told by a friend who went on a pre-season tour of Portugal that he was the only player who bothered to get off the team coach to thank travelling supporters for their support.
From a selfish point of view, I hope he is soon back with us. From Lee's point of view I hope Derby supporters give him the support some of our crowd are too pathetic to provide.”
by scott, oakwood
Saturday, January 02 2010, 2:57PM
“JOKE”
by rich, london
Saturday, January 02 2010, 12:22PM
“hahahaha. You got me with this one! Its good when your own club makes you laugh.”
by Dan, Bristol
Saturday, January 02 2010, 9:41AM
“<
by M.Kelly, Ireland
Saturday, January 02 2010, 9:09AM
“I would love to be wrong but I cant see Johnson adding anything to our team. If he was any good Bristol would not be letting him go out on loan.”
by Dean, Derby
Saturday, January 02 2010, 8:16AM
“Yay :(”