Derby County host play-off chasers Blackpool tomorrow afternoon – and there is one player for the visitors that Paul Warne must be wary of.
Paul Warne has been boosted by the news that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has ‘a really good’ chance of playing against Blackpool following an injury scare while top scorer James Collins is in line to start.
Collins and Mendez-Laing have carried the Rams’ threat almost single-handedly throughout this campaign having watched the devastating duo record an impressive 37 goal contributions between them.
In an attacking sense, Paul Warne‘s electric winger and lethal striker are two of Derby’s most important players, and without them, a significant amount of goal threat is lost.
That is why it is such a boost to have them both fit for tomorrow’s clash against Blackpool, although there is one player in Neil Critchley’s side who the Rams must be wary of.
Derby County must be wary of Karamoko Dembele
Karamoko Dembele set social media alight a few years ago – dancing through defenders as a 13-year-old for Celtic’s under-20 side – and is currently climbing his way to the top of English football.
Dembele had the footballing world at his toes during his time at the Scottish giants but after making just 10 appearances for the senior side, the Englishman was sold to Ligue 1 side Brest in the summer of 2022.
The 2003-born winger was loaned to League One side Blackpool last summer to give him regular game time and he’s become a revelation at Bloomfield Road.
Still only 21, the former England youth star clearly hasn’t lost the devastating dribbling ability that made him a YouTube sensation north of the border having scored four goals and supplied 10 assists in his last 22 appearances.
A jet-heeled winger, who enjoys operating in the pocket of space behind the striker, Dembele’s low centre of gravity and fleet-footed dribbling make him a difficult player to stop, with teammate James Husband describing him as “unplayable”.
It’s no surprise such form in the third tier has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, with the youngster putting in several worthy auditions to ply his trade at a higher level.
Derby’s full focus must be poured into keeping him quiet, although several sides, including promotion chasers Peterborough and Bolton, have found it difficult to contain him.
Dembele scored a late winner in a 2-1 victory over the Posh and secured two assists in a 4-1 thrashing of the Trotters.
This won’t fill Warne with confidence that he can stop the youngster from strutting his stuff, however, he hasn’t registered a goal and an assist in his last three outings, so Derby will be hoping that run continues tomorrow.