Derby County completed the season-long loan signing of Sunderland midfielder Elliot Embleton on transfer deadline day.
The 24-year-old became Paul Warne’s 11th and final signing of the summer on Friday evening, bolstering the Rams’ options in the middle of the park.
Embleton joins captain Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith, Liam Thompson, Tyrese Fornah, Louie Sibley and Max Bird as viable contenders for a spot in Derby’s midfield.
With Bird, Sibley and Thompson all currently injured, his arrival comes at the right time for the Rams who were in need of an extra body to help control things in the centre of the park.
The Black Cats loanee had an injury hit season last term having prominently featured at the beginning of the campaign. He made 24 appearances before tearing his ankle ligament which resulted in him missing the rest of the season.
Prior to his time in the injury room, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray was full of praise for Embleton.
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“I talk to Elliot a lot – he is another lad with a lot of talent, and he needs to know that the manager has faith in talent and he wants to play talented footballers,” said the experienced manager.
It is likely that the midfielder’s Pride Park switch is to regain fitness and return to form with his future at Sunderland being the bigger picture, although he may find himself surplus to requirements if the Black Cats fare well without him this season.
He is Derby’s for the season, however, so what can Rams fans expect?
Embleton is a player who has twice won promotion from League One, each time via the play-offs, so that experience could prove key if Warne’s men are to push up the league as the campaign unfolds.
Whilst on loan at Blackpool, the Englishman started in their play-off final victory over Lincoln City and grabbed an assist as the Tangerines secured a 2-1 victory to return to the Championship, also scoring in their semi-final tie against Oxford United.
A similar feat followed when starring in the play-offs during the following season for Sunderland as he hit the back of the net in spectacular fashion in their 2-0 play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers, proving his ability to perform when the pressure is on.
In total, Embleton has made 68 appearances in the third tier, scoring nine and assisting nine. His most prolific term came during his most recent League One adventure, scoring eight and assisting six for the Black Cats during the 2021/22 season.
Further Embleton praise
It is not just Mowbray who has been impressed by the England youth international, however, with Blackpool boss Neil Critchley also keen to compliment his qualities whilst he was on loan with the Tangerines after a fixture against Ipswich Town.
I thought he had some really promising moments, especially in the first-half,” said Critchley.
“He kept the ball well, he showed his calmness and quality on the ball and had a really good shot from the edge of the box which the keeper saved.
“But he’ll add to the quality of our team in the final third, he’ll add that little bit of ability and that link-up play.”
It appears as though the Rams have landed a solid addition and one who is likely to be a prominent feature in the squad. Offering a different skillset to what the squad currently possesses, it is safe to say supporters are eagerly anticipating his debut.