John Eustace makes Jeff Hendrick admission as Derby County contemplate transfer
John Eustace makes Jeff Hendrick admission as Derby County contemplate transfer
John Eustace believes Jeff Hendrick’s experience will help his Derby County dressing room as the club contemplates offering him an emotional return to Pride Park.
The midfielder is currently a free agent after leaving Newcastle last year and has been back at Moor Farm training with the first-team squad.
Eustace said the 33-year-old has looked “great” since being brought back to the club and a short-term deal could be on the cards for the midfielder who made his name at Derby before being sold to Burnley in 2016 for £10.5m.
And he feels the player’s experience will help Derby as they battle to preserve their Championship status.
“We’ve got Jeff training with us at the moment which I think’s a real plus for us,” he said.
“Obviously, Jeff knows the club inside out. He was here when I was playing as well, and I know the kind of character he is. I think he’ll help the dressing room from now to the end of the season.
“He’s looked great. He’s obviously a very fit, very athletic lad, and he looks no different now from when I was playing with him.
“He’s had a fantastic career, so I think his experience coming in to help the group will be key.
“He hasn’t played any games at all for the last year. He’s doing a small pre-season, but the season does not have that long to go.
“We want to get him involved as much as we can and hopefully, this time next week, he will be part of the group.”
Derby have not been afraid to utilise the free transfer market already this season having signed Kemar Roofe as a free agent last month,
Derby’s midfield options have been reduced by the injury to David Ozoh with the on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder having been ruled out for the season with a thigh injury.
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