Conor Hourihane has explained what he tries to do at Moor Farm to help out Derby County’s academy players.
Conor Hourihane has spent the last two years at Derby County, having played senior football across the Premier League and EFL for the last 13 years.
With two promotions under his belt, the midfielder has bags of experience as he comes towards the final stages of his career.
As Rams captain, Hourihane takes on key responsibilities to help give advice to the youngsters and help them integrate into the first team.
Derby County have long been known for having a brilliant academy and developing some hugely talented young stars, such as Tom Huddlestone, Will Hughes, Jayden Bogle and Morgan Whittaker.
The likes of Louie Sibley and Eiran Cashin continue to act as important first-team members now after coming up through the academy, while there are still plenty of youngsters at Moor Farm hoping to follow in their footsteps.
Conor Hourihane says they need to ‘feel comfortable’
Hourihane has now explained the off-pitch thing that he does to help the younger ones integrate into the senior squad.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby about the importance of forming relationships with the academy players, he said: “Yeah it’s massive. They’ve got to feel comfortable in their environment.
“The only time you get the hump with them is when there’s too many of them around the toaster!
“But it’s important for them that they come in and they enjoy the environment and are comfortable around first-team players, because I was one of them one time and it can be daunting. I think it’s really important then when some of those lads are lucky enought to come and train with us, you’ve got to know them in the building so they’re more comfortable and it’s not the first time you’re meeting on the training pitch. It’s so important that when the lads come over and train with us that could be their opportunity, that could be their one time, you never know how the game goes.
“So it’s important for them to feel comfortable around the lads and I think that starts in the building.”
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Derby County certainly have a number of teenagers that could be the next stars to make their name in Pride Park, with Dajaune Brown one in particular who has attracted attention.
The striker is currently on loan at Gateshead and has netted six goals in only five starts for the National League side, while he is set to play at Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final next month – while he could be set for a second visit in the play-offs too.
While it’s yet to be seen whether he will be brought into the senior squad next season, he is certainly one player that the club want to be careful with, and if Hourihane stays this summer then I’m sure he will be eager to help him out.