Inside Pride Park: Player takes action amid Derby County transfer link, Harrison Armstrong decision after…

Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings you the latest tidbits of news and gossip you may have missed from in and around Pride Park

Derby County play their first game of their pre-season campaign this weekend when they tackle Matlock Town.

New signings Carlton Morris, Danny Batth, Andi Weimann and Richard O’Donnell are all expected to feature before the Rams jet out to Austria for their camp which is rounded off with a game against RB Salzburg.

Derby County play their first game of their pre-season campaign this weekend when they tackle Matlock Town.

In the meantime, John Eustace and the recruitment team are busy plotting their plan of attack for the deals they still need to do with USA striker Patrick Agyemang being lined up for a big move to Pride Park.

As the club prepares for pre-season and a training camp in Austria, Leigh Curtis opens his Derby notebook to bring you some of the stories you may have missed…

Swift keeps sharp amid Rams link

John Swift is keeping himself in shape while he waits for his next destination amid ongoing links to Derby County.

The playmaker is a free agent after leaving West Brom and has been linked to several clubs at home and abroad since leaving the Hawthorns.

Derby have been credited with an interest, but Swift has yet to finalise a move elsewhere but that has not stopped him from getting fit.

Swift has joined a camp led by the Professional Footballers’ Association designed to help free agents stay in shape, following a recommendation from ex-Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.

Wildsmith used it to good effect last year after being released by Derby before subsequently being snapped up by West Brom.

Swift, who has also been linked with Stoke and Portsmouth, said: “There’s nothing worse than just being sat home, going to the gym, waiting for your agent to call, hoping that it’s sooner rather than later.

“So I’d rather come in and just do this (PFA led training camp).

“It’s somewhere to come, get back fit and get on the pitch, because you can’t replicate what you do out there in the gym.

“As soon as you turn 30, I think the options become a little bit sparse, but now I’m excited to see where I go next.”

Under-18s group confirmed

Derby County have confirmed their new crop of youngsters who have joined the under-18s squad.

Former Rams midfielder Bradley Johnson will manage the group and attended an induction night at the end of June with their families.

Johnson welcomed them with a speech while they also heard from head coach John Eustace, academy manager Matt Hale, and former scholars Adisa Osayande and Luke Banks.

Among the first-year scholars are right-sided attacker Zayne Blake who signed as an under-15 from Gedling Southbank. He made his Under-21s debut last term and scored the winner in a 2-1 Central League victory over Salford City B.

Kieran Clarke, a wide player, has been at the club since joining from Sheffield Wednesday as an under-12 and will also be in the group as will centre-back Luca Crolla who joined from Manchester City in the summer.

Cristiano Dzialuk, who signed from Birmingham club CS Colts, is described as a brave and athletic goalkeeper and signed his scholarship just three months after starting his journey at the academy through the goalkeeper development centre.

Attacker Kacey Gill joined the pre-academy from AS Plant Youth in Mansfield and he represents the club alongside his older brother, Tristan. He appeared for both the Under-18s and Under-21s last season.

Euan Griffiths joined the club from Manchester City as an Under-17 and made his Under-18s debut against his former club last season.

Tom Marriott, a defender who started out with FC Burbage in Leicestershire before moving to Derby, is also part of the under-18s. He is the reigning Academy Player of the Season and has already featured regularly for the Under-18s and Under-21s.

Joining them will be Charlie Smith, who was the club’s top scorer during the run to the Floodlit Cup final, scoring two hat-tricks during the knockout phase. George Stokes, meanwhile, is the fifth member of this season’s group to progress from the Pre-Academy to sign a scholarship. Born into a family of Derby County supporters, Stokes can operate at left-back or in midfield.

Darnelle Thomas, a wide attacking player from Nottingham, made the transition to full-back after initially joining the academy at Under-12 level. He is described as an athletically strong player.

The second-year scholars are: Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu, Rio Canoville, Braidy Connell-Webster, Sean Corry, AJ Doyle, Alfie Friars, Khace Gordon, Israel Green, Dantel Hodges, Marley Mintus, Harvey Rees, James Ward.

Armstrong to be given Everton chance

Harrison Armstrong is currently away with Everton for their pre-season camp in Scotland as David Moyes looks set to run the rule over the midfielder.

The teenager enjoyed an excellent loan spell with Derby last season and played an integral role in helping the Rams stay in the Championship.

Armstrong did not rule out the prospect of a return at the end of the season, but Everton were impressed with his performances leading Moyes to take a closer look at him this summer.

The prospect of another loan has not been ruled out for Armstrong, but it is likely he will be involved in Everton’s summer series.

Armstrong, Youssef Chermiti, and Nathan Patterson were all part of the group that travelled to Scotland, but Moyes only has 15 senior players available to call on with the rest of the party being made up of academy players.

Ilesanmi ready for new chapter

Former Derby County striker Emmanuel Ilesanmi is ready for the next step in his career after landing a move to Telford.

The forward was the Bucks’ fourth summer signing and arrived at the club after being released by the Rams in the summer.

The 20-year-old spent time out on loan at Torquay United in the National League South last season as part of his development.

Ilesanmi was ultimately let go by Derby and he will now be part of United’s bid to stabilise in the National League North after winning promotion last season.