Richard Keogh has told his team-mates what they need to do if they are to progress under Steve McClaren.
Derby County defender Richard Keogh has demanded more courage from his team-mates as they look to kick-start their season under Steve McClaren, according to the club’s official website.
McClaren returned to the iPro Stadium 17 months after getting the sack for failing to deliver a long awaited promotion to one of the Championship’s most expensively assembled squads, though a win against Leeds in the first game since his return has been undermined by a goalless stalemate with Brentford and an insipid defeat to Huddersfield.
Consequently, Keogh has insisted that the players must show courage if they are to realise McClaren’s philosophy of expansive, passing football as they prepare for a tough clash with Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
“We need to get back to the way that we all want to play. That’s not easy because teams set out to really stop us playing, but we have got to stick to our principles,” the long-serving centre-back told the club’s official website.
“As players, we need to show courage in situations like this. When we are faced with these situations it is about us having the mentality to find a way through it. We have got to be brave.
“Now is not the time for us to change what we are about and trying to do something we wouldn’t usually. As a team, we have got to implement the plan, stick to it, and see it through.”
In his first spell, McClaren transformed Derby into one of the league’s most watchable sides, with Tom Ince, Chris Martin and Johnny Russell forming an effective forward trio while Craig Bryson and Jeff Hendrick (below) offered a reliable source of goals from midfield.
However, the team’s progress stalled and stagnated under Paul Clement and Nigel Pearson, meaning the former Newcastle boss (below) has a lot to do to restore The Rams to their status as promotion contenders.
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