Derby County have been urged by Paul Jewell to wrap up a loan deal for Manchester City starlet, Liam Delap, with the former Rams boss stating that a stint in the EFL would be good for the young striker. 

Football League World reported back in March that Delap was on the radar of Derby as Man City pondered sending him out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign. Stoke City and AFC Bournemouth were touted to us as other possible destinations for the 18-year-old.

Jewell feels that Delap is a really good prospect, having struck 24 goals in only 20 Premier League 2 appearances this term for City's under-23s.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Jewell said: “He’s a terrific prospect. He’s powerful, quick and scores goals. He’s a real good prospect.

“It’s a big step to go from under-23s into Championship football, but they (City) expect big things of Liam.

“He’s one that would certainly be in-demand from most teams in the Championship.”

Delap's form in City's youth side is exceptional, but he's also managed to make the step up into the first-team briefly this season under Pep Guardiola.

The teenager has made three appearances for City, scoring once in the League Cup win over AFC Bournemouth.

For Jewell, it's important that Delap gets a taste of senior football somewhere in the EFL to truly aid his development.

He continued: “If you’ve got a chance to go out on loan, whether it is League One, League Two, the Championship, wherever it is, there’s no downside to that. Go and play football, go play men’s football.

“Look at the last England World Cup squad, a huge percentage of that squad had played out on loan in the lower leagues. Some people think it is a step back going to play in League One or League Two, but it isn’t. I’ve seen under-23 games and it is like they aren’t real games.

“If you go and play in a league where on a Saturday it really matters, it brings you on as a player.”

Derby survived relegation into League One on the final day of the Championship season, drawing 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday. However, an EFL appeal against the club's breach of Financial Fair Play means that talk of a point deduction looms. That would result in relegation.