The international break rarely throws up much in the way of conversation starters for Derby County fans, but one player’s absence from his country’s lineup this week has shown just how much they need him.
It is not uncommon for a team in the Championship to have very few international players in their squad, especially considering Derby County have only just returned to the second tier of English football.
Still, the Rams had Ebou Adams on international duty this week with Gambia, while Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has been involved with the Swedish national team again, albeit on the bench.
However, it’s a player who has stayed at home and been working hard with Paul Warne and the rest of the squad during the break that may have the best case for an international call-up next.
Eiran Cashin can solve Ireland’s defensive issues
The Republic of Ireland fell to a shocking 5-0 defeat to England in their latest Nations League meeting, with the Three Lions easily exploiting the fragilities of the Irish defence.
Surely, then, there is space for Eiran Cashin to step up to the senior squad when Heimir Hallgrimsson names his next squad in 2025.
The Derby County centre-back has been a huge presence for his club this season, playing the full 90 minutes in all but one of his appearances.
With his tough tackling, impressive reading of the game, strength in the air, and ability to break the lines with progressive passes, it’s clear that a player like Cashin is exactly what the Irish are missing right now.
Derby County rely heavily on Eiran Cashin
It has been a great season for Cashin so far, and the 23-year-old has been integral to Derby’s solid defensive work this term.
He has even captained the side on three occasions, and his leadership was sorely missed in the Rams’ draw against Plymouth just before the international break, with Cashin serving a one-game suspension after reaching five yellow cards for the season.
| Statistic | Eiran Cashin 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 13 |
| Minutes played | 1,100 |
| Passing accuracy | 79% |
| Interceptions per game | 2.3 |
| Tackles per game | 2.1 |
| Duels won | 63% |
Cashin is almost certain to go straight back into the Derby County lineup for the Preston North End game at the weekend, and his partnership with Curtis Nelson will be crucial to the team’s chances of getting a result in what is a huge game against a side struggling in the lower half of the table.
He’s a colossal presence at the back, and if Paul Warne and his men are to survive — or, dare we say it, thrive — this season, they will need Cashin to continue his fine form.
Any personal reward for the player himself is likely to be an afterthought, but there is no doubt Cashin will have been watching that Ireland disasterclass against England and wondering how different things could have been if he were in the team.