This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…
Football League World’s Derby County fan pundit Matthew Bailey has predicted that 18-year-old midfielder Jason Knight has “a big future ahead of him” and looks like he belongs in the first team.
Knight was given his debut by new boss Phillip Cocu this season and has made six appearances for the Rams already, including starting their last two Championship fixtures.
The teenager is one of a number of young players that the Dutch coach has given first-team opportunities to in the 2019/20 campaign, including Lee Buchanan, Morgan Whittaker, and Louie Sibley.
Bailey indicated he was glad to see Cocu take this approach and revealed that Knight was the young player that has impressed him most this season.
He said: “I had seen little bits of him last season when watching the Derby youth teams and he impressed me then.
“Watching him in pre-season he looked like he belonged in the first team. He has an abundance of energy and a great eye for a pass.
“The thing that impressed me the most is that he isn’t scared to put himself about and get stuck in.
“I think the lad has a big future ahead of him and it’s great to see another young player progressing at Derby.”
He added: “I am a big fan of using young players and it’s great to see Cocu giving some of the younger lads a chance with the first team.
“It is so hard for young players to break into the first team at any football club now due to the number of signings from abroad.”
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Bailey suggested that Cocu’s approach, while positive for the development of the young players, has had a detrimental effect on the club’s results.
He explained: “I think there are certain games when you should play youth to give them a taste of first-team football and ease them in.
“I do think Cocu has used youth a little too much and it has effected results.”
He highlighted the 3-0 defeat to East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup as a particular example.
Bailey said: “Away at Forest in the cup is huge for the fans and Cocu decided to play a lot of young lads.
"That is a big ask for experienced players let alone young players in their first few games for the club and I think the occasion got to them and that’s why we lost the match. You can’t blame the young lads as it is a lot to ask.”