Former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore was impressed with Jack Marriott’s performance for Derby County in the Championship playoff semi-finals.
Derby will take on Villa at Wembley Stadium in London in the Championship playoff final on Monday afternoon.
Former Villa striker Collymore has praised Marriott, who played a key role in Derby’s win against Leeds in the semi-finals.
The 24-year-old striker scored twice after coming on as a substitute to help the Rams win the second leg of their tie against Leeds 4-2 away from home at Elland Road earlier this month to help Frank Lampard’s side progress to the final 4-3 on aggregate.
Marriott has made 19 starts and 16 substitute appearances in the Championship for Derby this season, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in the process, according to WhoScored.
According to Sky Sports, Derby paid Peterborough United an initial transfer fee of £3 million in order to secure the services of the striker in the summer of 2018.
Collymore wrote in The Sunday People (print edition, page 53, Sunday, May 26, 2019): “If Villa can get enough supply to Jonathan Kodjia or Albert Adomah, depending on who plays, and Tammy Abraham, then they will score goals.
“That said, Derby seriously impressed me with their bottle, determination, youthfulness and skill on the front foot against Leeds in their semi-final – and in Jack Marriott they have a real ace up their sleeve.
“I like the fact that he’s a little bit of a maverick figure and if his finishing is anywhere near as clinical as it was at Elland Road then the Villa rearguard have to be really wary of the threat he poses.”
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