Derby County youngster Max Lowe believes that he will get much more first-team opportunities under the regime of Paul Clement.
The former Real Madrid assistant manager was appointed as the replacement for Steve McClaren, who was sacked at the end of last season. Derby looked like returning to the Premier League even via the automatic places for much of the campaign, but a run of just three wins in the final few months of the season saw them miss out even on a play-off place. McLaren has paid for this form with his job and he has since taken over at Newcastle United.
For Derby, it is about bringing the best out of the club’s youth academy and also trying to get promotion back to the club. Funds will be limited for the new manager and this is likely to force Clement into looking at the youth team. One of the areas that definitely needs strengthening is the left back. The club has struggled in this position even after recruiting Leeds United’s Stephen Warnock recently. Warnock has struggled for form at Derby and there are suggestions that Lowe could become his replacement under Clement. Despite his experience, Warnock has also not been able to play in the defensive midfield role when called upon.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest year of my career so far. I have to prove that I’m ready and good enough to be involved within the first-team. From what I’ve been told, Paul Clement is going to give us younger lads a chance to prove that, so it’s all down to me really.Will Hughes is someone for me to take inspiration from and he is brilliant with us younger lads. He has a good relationship with us and looking up to him, it’s something that is not that far out of my hands,” said Lowe.