Five-star Jeff Hendrick is Derby County's ace after tough spell early on
JEFF Hendrick has been Derby County's star performer in the past five matches, according to manager Nigel Clough.
Hendrick struggled earlier this season to reproduce his form of last season when he won the club's Young Player of the Year award.
The 20-year-old midfielder was taken out of the firing line for the home games against Birmingham City and Cardiff City at the end of November after he had endured a tough afternoon in the 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.
But the youngster has dug deep and stormed back to form.
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So much so that manager Nigel Clough described Hendrick's display in Tuesday's victory over Middlesbrough as "imperious".
Clough says the consistency shown by the player in recent weeks has been remarkable.
"It has been, especially after his rough start to the season," added Clough.
"Things started to turn for him against Leeds last month and since then he has looked stronger and six inches taller.
"He looked imperious at times last season and he looked imperious again in the Middlesbrough match.
"He has been our star performer in the last four or five games."
Clough believes Hendrick's resurgence is down to the player rediscovering the physical side of his game.
"Maybe after his first season he thought he could have a little strut around midfield and not get involved in the physical side – the heading, the tackling, the running with and without the ball – all the important things midfielders have to do," said Clough.
"He has just started doing that in the last few weeks, and he looks a different player.
"We can talk to him and other players can help him but as a player you have to get through it yourself. That is where you get your strength of character.
"He has come back brilliantly and it is nice to see.
"He looks a very mature midfielder at the moment."
Hendrick and 17-year-old Will Hughes formed the central midfield pairing in Derby's last two games.
"Look through the Championship or through any professional football and you will struggle to find two such youngsters playing in central midfield," said Clough.
"I am sure a few teams look at us and think the central midfield two are only 17 and 20. I don't think opposition managers and coaches think that but some opposition players might think 'let's get at these two kids' but that doesn't happen.
"They have both got very, very bright futures."
Comments
by PeteDerby1
Saturday, January 05 2013, 6:54AM
“Oh, OK stimac - tell me, What on earth is 'rubbish' about that post? Have Cwyka and Maguire gone on to prove Clough wrong? Haven't players like Hendrick improved? Isn't the way the team are playing and the 'togetherness' of the squad testament to good management?
Pray , share your pearls of wisdom o great one.”
by paul72
Friday, January 04 2013, 11:02PM
“There you go on about spending big bucks! Ive never said that it's clear we need a centreback if we signed a quality player from league 1 I would be happy ! also. I think we need look for talent abroad the second divisions of the German Spanish and French leagues is where I would look for the next indiakes !”
by derwentx
Friday, January 04 2013, 10:49PM
“Quote; 'hendrick is prob the second best young CM in league behind hughes.....'
Yes, Paul72, they are the products of investment in the academy by the owners and they have been allowed to flourish because GSE haven't panicked and changed the manager and his staff every six months. Hats off to Clough for sticking with him during the lean period. Just goes to show how far sensible and patient ownership can take a club without spending big bucks. Still, we are supposedly accepting mediocrity!
On matters of man management I totally agree with PeteDerby, the accusations of Clough mis-managing the likes of Cwyka and Maguire were total baloney, they weren't good enough, end of story. They were worth a shot but fall into the category of 'ones who didn't make it', every manager has a few of those on his CV, including Alex Ferguson.”
by paul72
Friday, January 04 2013, 9:20PM
“hendrick is prob the second best young CM in league behind hughes nigel is doing a great job and Jacobs could turn out to be a better player than commons like commons he his 2 footed but jacobs is prob a yard quicker !”
by stimacisgod
Friday, January 04 2013, 8:53PM
“agreed, he's playing very well as is jacobs.
Petederby1 - stop talking rubbish”
by ramATREE
Friday, January 04 2013, 5:42PM
“Another good example is Ben Davies playing well after being drop,t but fighting his way back and playing well again after losing his way.”
by PeteDerby1
Friday, January 04 2013, 5:23PM
“Good management from Clough - balance of praise and constructive criticism has seen Hendrick and others improve no end.
Funny how you never see Cwyka and Maguire mentioned anymore as examples of Clough's 'poor man-management'.
Seeing how they've done precious little at their new clubs just underlines how right he was to push them to try and improve their game whilst they were here - then moved them on when they proved incapable of taking onboard what the coaching staff were trying to get them to do to improve their games.”
by ramATREE
Friday, January 04 2013, 4:28PM
“Nice to see him back and playing well keep up the good work”
by Derbyirish
Friday, January 04 2013, 9:05AM
“Saw Hendrick in Westfield thre other week- was quite surprised as he's actually a lot bigger than you think.”