Paul Warne has issued a warning to squad players at Derby that they won’t get long runs to prove themselves in the team.
Paul Warne has been talking ahead of Derby’s return to action against Shrewsbury this Saturday.
He has suggested he knows he will have to utilise the entire depth of his squad ahead of a hectic run of games.
Derby are set to be boosted by multiple returns from injury, however patience is needed for them to get match-fit.
This is something Warne has suggested will be difficult as he said you ‘cant use first-team games to get fit’.
However the run of fixtures coming up Warne does think will help those who need game time.
Warne on rotation
According to the Derbyshire Telegraph, Warne has been discussing the prospect of rotating.
“Realistically if you get five games on the spin as a player then you are right on the money in terms of fitness,” he said. “But you can only get five games on the spin if your performance levels are up there.
“It’s a vicious circle really because I have players coming into my office saying well if you just give me a run in the team I’d be unbelievable. But you can’t use first-team games to get fit. We can do as much work as we can with them at the training ground but nothing replicates games.
“But the good thing is with Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, is those lads will get game time. How much I don’t know. But we do have challengers for positions now. Sonny Bradley is desperate to play but there are two very good centre-backs in front of him.
“Obviously we will also have Conor Washington and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing back after the international break too. There are a lot of players now which is good which is even harder for the lads who need the minutes to get them. That’s the truth.”