Kieran Thomas has starred in the National League North with Gloucester City but will be playing at a much higher level if Derby County sign him.
Gary Rowett’s first signing at Derby County may not be the much-needed prolific goalscorer or an influential central midfielder.
Instead, according to Gloucester Live, it could be a 21-year-old right-back from non-league.
Gloucester City star Kieran Thomas has certainly caught the eye in the National League North this season and, as a result, was recently offered a trial by the Championship club.
Derby may well be in need of reinforcements at right-back with both Cyrus Christie and Chris Baird (below) out of contract at the end of the season, but it would be a huge show of faith if they were to hand Thomas a role in the first-team next season.
Yet, the youngster’s manager at Gloucester City, Tim Harris, has no doubts that he can step up.
“They invited him up for a week and he’s been absolutely outstanding for us this season. He is Mr Consistent and I know a number of other clubs are looking at him too,” Harris told Gloucester Live.
“My experience of helping a number of players either into the Football League, or back into it, is that the lad has a great chance.”
This is not the first time Derby have been linked with a non-league starlet in recent weeks. 22-year-old Stafford Rangers hitman Josh Gordon was also reportedly on the club’s radar, only to link up with non-league legend Jamie Vardy at Leicester City instead after a successful trial period.
Thomas is expected to feature for Derby’s Under-23s against Luton Town on Tuesday afternoon and, if all goes well, he could be a Championship player by the end of the season.
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