Since signing on loan from Everton on transfer deadline day, midfielder Beni Baningime has made just two appearances for Derby County.
The Congolese youngster has featured the least out of all five loanees brought in by Wayne Rooney on transfer deadline day, with George Edmundson, Patrick Roberts, Teden Mengi and Lee Gregory all very active members of the first team.
Speaking to the media following the Rams latest fixture, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City, Rooney explained why Baningime had been lesser spotted.
“You bring a player in and you want to try and give them time to impress, but at the minute the way we have been going it has been hard for me to give him minutes,” explained the Derby boss to the Derby Telegraph.
He added: “I think the middle of the pitch is a very important position for the team and it is just about picking the right time for him to come in and take the chance when he does.”
Having made eight Premier League and three Europa League appearances for the Toffees, the 22-year-old will likely have been expecting more game time as he dropped down a division to the Championship.
No more than five loan players are allowed in a matchday squad, however, with Matt Clarke also being on loan alongside the other four deadline day signings, it means one player must always miss out. Unfortunately for Baningime, that player has been him on a handful of occasions already.
With only eight games remaining, time is running out for him to impress potential suitors so he will surely be hoping for an extended run in the team as we reach the business end.