Admired by Gary Rowett, Derby County should challenge Aston Villa for Marc Roberts

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Derby County manager Gary Rowett is clearly a fan of Barnsley’s Player of the Year Marc Roberts – but Aston Villa are keen too.

Derby County supporters will have got used to their club spending huge sums on underperforming players in recent seasons. Yes, we’re looking at you Nick Blackman (above). Therefore, it will come as a welcome relief to learn that manager Gary Rowett is casting his net far wider in the search for bargain talents.

After links with Stafford Rangers hitman Josh Gordon and reports in Gloucester Live that they have taken Gloucester City right-back Kieran Thomas on trial, it appears that their scouring of non-league football is only just getting started.

Rowett confirmed to the Derby Telegraph that players lower down the league ladder could be given a chance to earn an opportunity at Pride Park – with the manager using one player’s progression as inspiration.

“I remember, when I was at [manager of] Burton, watching Marc Roberts playing at Buxton. He was heading footballs in the snow,” Rowett recalls.

“He’s now at Barnsley being linked with clubs for millions of pounds, so that shows the quality that is out there.”

However, before Derby begin their non-league recruitment drive, perhaps they should indulge in one more big money transfer swoop and align Roberts with a manager who so clearly admires his no-nonsense approach.

The Sun claimed at the weekend that Aston Villa are interested in the 26-year-old who, just a few seasons after playing for Buxton and then Halifax Town, has earned Barnsley’s Player of the Season award.

Roberts is exactly the kind of rugged, powerful leader that Villa have lacked at the back this season so it makes sense that Steve Bruce would join a number of Premier League clubs in the chase for his signature.

However, with veteran defender Jason Shackell’s season ruined by injury, Rowett could perhaps target defensive reinforcements in the summer. And Roberts would surely not be another overpriced flop at Pride Park.