Team Focus: Post-January Squad Depth Leading Derby Towards Promotion

Darren Bent has had a curious career. His talent has never been doubted but the most frustrating thing about the 31-year-old is how easily he can flit from prolific to profligate. For each season like the 24 league goals he scored for Sunderland in 2009/10, there was a campaign like 2007/08 at Tottenham where he would only score 6.

He is approaching 200 career goals, though the past four years have produced not only lengthy dry spells at Aston Villa, but moments where he could quite easily escape from the minds of casual observers.

However, all of a sudden and somewhat surprisingly considering his previous unsuccessful loan spells at Fulham and Brighton, the former England striker appears to be recapturing a portion of his old form at Derby County.

Bent opened the scoring in their FA Cup defeat against Reading on Saturday but, more importantly, earned an important point at fellow promotion challengers Bournemouth last Tuesday. On as a substitute for Chris Martin after 15 minutes, he first created Tom Ince’s goal to make it 1-1 before tidily finishing 12 minutes from time to make it 2-2.

It was an accomplished showing in a game of Premier League quality and Bent looked as sharp as anyone, tirelessly leading the line by himself. He has been a player of extremes, either blindingly brilliant or extremely ineffective, but on recent form it appears that he is in the mood again. Championship defences should be worried.

Yet the system favoured by McClaren means Bent may not start every week. He will be behind Chris Martin, the Scotland striker who has already netted 16 times in the league, in the pecking order and instead may be called on to impress from the bench. If that is the case, he will be far and away the best Plan B in the division.

Derby only rank 17th when it comes to shots per game (13.1), but only Bournemouth and Norwich have enjoyed more possession (55.4%) and they are the only team to have a pass completion rate of over 80%. Millwall are the only side to have been fouled more (12.6 times per game).

McClaren added real depth to his squad in January – along with Bent, Ince came in with Jesse Lingard – and the former England manager’s astute loan dealings has given them a real edge in the race to reach the Premier League. Stephen Warnock, another recent addition from Leeds, made his debut against Reading but was sent off shortly before half-time, making Derby’s squad the strongest on paper.

“The gaffer has dipped into the loan market and it’s not just about 11 players now. We’ve got a really good squad,” Bent said after the Bournemouth game. “Anyone looking in from outside would probably say we’ve got the best squad in the Championship.”

The key lies in the balance struck by McClaren. His squad contains piles of big-game experience from the likes of Bent which is complimented by the hungry young midfield pairing of Will Hughes and Jeff Hendrick. Hughes’ talents have long been well known but it has been Hendrick’s rise which has been most impressive. Last season he showed plenty of promise but has scored 5 goals of stunning quality and also contributed 4 assists to date.

Cyrus Christie, another new face this season, has looked impressive at the back – providing six assists from defence.There were flourishes of a burgeoning partnership at Bournemouth with Christie overlapping. Ince has a tendency to cut in but pair that with the pace of the Republic of Ireland international and Derby’s right flank is likely to terrorise many left-backs.

McClaren places an onus using the full width of the pitch but with such an emphasis on attack, their defensive resilience must not be overlooked either. Led by Richard Keogh, who must have felt the most pain of all after the playoff final defeat last season, they have conceded only 28 times. Middlesbrough are the only side with a better record.

Derby have six league games in the next three weeks, starting at Rotherham this Tuesday. All six are against sides currently outside of the top 10. Victory in Yorkshire will put them top – it would be no surprise to see them stay there.

Do you think Derby have the best squad in the Championship? Let us know in the comments below