Darren Wassall has been discussing the benefits Derby County’s Under-23s will enjoy from playing several of their Premier League 2 Division 1 fixtures at first team stadiums this coming season.
Whilst seven of the Rams’ home matches will be played at Pride Park Stadium, they are also due to play at Prenton Park (Liverpool), Liberty Stadium (Swansea City), Goodison Park (Everton), King Power Stadium (Leicester City) and London Stadium (West Ham United) over the course of the campaign.
Wassall, Derby’s academy director, feels that alone only enhances the competition for the country’s young players and represents a big step forward in their development.
He told RamsTV: “There’s an appetite across all the clubs in the league to try and recreate the opportunity and experience of playing a first team game at this level.
“Now we know that we can’t replicate a 30,000 crowd in a stadium and all the pressures of first team football, but we are trying to get as close to it as possible.
“By playing at Pride Park Stadium, where seven of our games are pencilled in to be played, whilst we are also going to be playing at the Liberty Stadium, Goodison Park, London Stadium and the King Power Stadium, our players will get a little taste of that.
“It’s about trying to make playing in the Under-23 league as big an experience as possible.”
Wassall also took time out to discuss his side’s start to the 2017/18 season.
The Rams will face Arsenal at St George’s Park in their season opener on Monday 14th August (kick-off: 7pm), before travelling to the capital to take on Chelsea (kick-off: 7:05pm).
Wassall has labelled the start as a ‘baptism of fire’ for his players.
He added: “I could think of easier games to start with! As was proved last year, every single game in Division 1 is very tough, competitive and is full of quality.
“Our first two games are Arsenal and Chelsea – that will be a bit of a baptism of fire – but it’s a challenge that all of the players will be relishing.”
