Football Season Guide

Derby County finished a respectable 12th spot in the Championship last term, after a season that had its fair share of ups and at times Nigel Clough's men flirted with a play-off spot. Clough will continue his policy of playing youngsters early and Jeff Hendrick and Mark O'Brien were two exceptional performers last season with big things expected of Mason Bennett and Will Hughes in the campaign to come. Derby have been hit by the surprise departure of Jason Shackell after just one season and with Shaun Barker out for the season with a serious knee injury could be short in the defensive department. Richard Keogh and James O'Connor have arrived and look reasonable signings while Michael Jacobs and Paul Coutts are hard-working Nigel Clough-type players but Derby do lack a striker who can score goals regular. That surely must be a priority for Nigel Clough who saw his side struggle in front of goal at times last term.