Paul Jewell dipped into the loan market just before the deadline and fished out not only a player who he hopes will shore up his defence but another who will bring some goals.
Every Derby fan was praying that by Thursday at 5pm there would be another player on the club's books with ‘defender’ pencilled in next to his name. That name may not have been one on the tips of their lips but they still got a defender all the same.
Having faced the club last season as a West Ham player, 19 year old James Tomkins is considered a great future prospect for the Hammers and joins Derby on loan until the end of December.
Nicknamed ‘Tomka’, since the age of 8 he has been a West Ham player but played as a centre forward in his early career. He has been capped for the England U15, 16, 17 & 19’s and played for West Ham 6 times since making his premier league debut in March this year.
I was slightly bemused when I first saw his name as may have any other Australian browsing the news. This is because he shares his name with a very famous gold medal winning Olympic rower from down under. Mind you if he can keep the Rams defence from springing any more leaks then he may keep their season afloat (sorry!!).
Surprisingly Paul Jewell then turned to his attacking options with the signing of Charlton’s Luke Varney until January when the deal will become permanent, reportedly for 3 years worth around £1.5m. 26 year old Varney began his career with non-league Quorn before signing for Crewe in 2003. He spent four years at the club appearing in 95 games for 35 goals.
Varney completed a move to Charlton Athletic for £2 million in May 2007 and managed 10 goals in his 53 appearances. He has recently been frozen out of first team action and the will be hoping the move to Pride Park will reinvigorate the promise he showed for the Railway men. It seems Paul Jewell is confident he can and has given him three years to do so.
There was also movement at the exit door before the loan window closed. Liam Dickinson joined Blackpool until the start of January, Lewis Price had his loan with MK Dons extended, Mitchell Hanson joined Notts County and Jay McEveley swapped places with Varney (albeit in different positions) signing with Charlton for three-months.
Paul Jewell and his management team have come good on their promise to add to the squad, now all that can be done is to wait and see whether a very young defensive heart, can bring back the heart to the Rams defence. At the other end will a striker down on his luck add more goals to the Rams season although some would debate whether another striker was needed, when keeping them out at the other end seems to be the main problem this season?
Finally I have kept quiet on the subject for over a month but the absence of Sterjovski still baffles me. I hate to think what he has done to be continually overlooked. An player who is still selected for his country with no game time under his belt, sits on the bench or in the stands while the team struggles to be creative and put together a winning score.
I half expected to see him shipped out on loan but am now baffled further by Mile still being on the books. With the teams recent performances surely it’s the time for him to be given a genuine chance and if he doesn’t step up then move him on, instead of letting him rot.
Time to get the train back on its tracks.
C’mon Ewe Rams! :0)