The international break is just about complete, and Derby County boss Paul Warne will be able to properly get to work ahead of the clash with Preston North End at the weekend.
As a newly-promoted side in the second tier of English football, it’s a given that Derby County are not exactly inundated with international call-ups during these breaks.
However, Paul Warne did have a couple of players representing their countries over the last fortnight, and he will be relieved to get them back in one piece.
Warne himself revealed he had big plans for the international break for the players staying behind, and now he can integrate both Ebou Adams and Jacob Widell Zetterstrom back into the setup before Saturday’s game.
- READ MORE: Four things Paul Warne has got right at Derby County this season – and three things he hasn’t
Ebou Adams’ reduced game time for Gambia could be good news
All in all, it was a fairly disappointing international break for Adams. Not only did Gambia crash out of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but the player himself failed to complete a full 90 minutes.
Adams played just 45 minutes for Gambia against Comoros last week, but he did record an impressive 88% pass completion rate on a personal level.
The Derby man was dropped to the bench for the game against Tunisia on Monday night, as his nation won 1-0 away from home. Adams entered the field on the 83rd minute meaning he has racked up roughly 55 minutes in total over the two games.
That will be great news for Warne, who will have been desperate for his midfielder to get through the international break without any issues creeping in, and one would assume Adams will now be fully fit and ready to go at the weekend.
- READ MORE: Jerry Yates will steal the headlines but 59-touch Derby County star was real MVP vs Plymouth
Ebou Adams has been crucial for Derby County this season
Having signed for Derby in the summer, Adams was largely expected to fight it out with David Ozoh for a place in Warne’s starting lineup.
However, a lengthy spell on the sidelines for the latter has meant Adams has been able to establish himself in the team and has shown how important he can be.
| Statistic | Ebou Adams (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 16 |
| Minutes played | 1,327 |
| Pass completion | 70.4% |
| Tackles won per 90 | 2.65 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 1.84 |
| Touches per 90 | 40.7 |
In fact, Ebou Adams is ranked top when it comes to tackles and interceptions in England’s top four divisions, which says a lot about his impact.
Ozoh is on his way back from injury now, so it will be fascinating to see how Warne deals with that selection dilemma, or if he can find space for both in his team.