Why Derby should do their all to keep hold of this key midfielder

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There has been a lot of hype about Will Hughes since the talented midfielder burst on to the scene at Derby County, so much so that it was reported that both Manchester City and Manchester United were interested in securing the services of the young man. Hughes stayed with The Rams and has been an integral part of their first team ever since. Although an anterior cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for the majority of this season, now that he is back fit he is once again attracting attention from other clubs.

Will Hughes joined Derby as a scholar in 2011. Following a string of impressive performances for the reserves, he made his professional debut less than a year later, aged just 16, and hasn’t looked back since. Remarkably, despite being only 21-years-old, Hughes has made over 100 first team appearances for the club. Impressing at the senior level has led to him appearing for both England U17s and U21s. At 17 years of age, he is the second youngest player ever to represent England U21s – behind Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.

In terms of his position, Hughes is a versatile player who can play anywhere in midfield. The young man has exceptional vision and uses his technical ability to create an abundance of chances for his team. He is a player who is comfortable on the ball, likes to dictate play, and who makes football look easy by effortlessly finding pockets of space for himself. Despite his size, he is very strong on the ball and doesn’t often lose possession. Also, he isn’t afraid to put his body on the line when making a tackle.

One area of his game that Hughes could improve on is his finishing. In 122 senior appearances for The Rams, the creative midfielder has only contributed seven goals. If he improves this aspect of his game then many believe that he will be the complete midfielder. Also, following his serious injury this season, it is imperative that he gets a solid pre-season under his belt so that he can hit the ground running once again come August.

New Derby manager Nigel Pearson will be keen to keep hold of his best players in order to try and achieve promotion to the Premier League next season – and Hughes certainly falls into this category. However, this could be easier said than done as there is already reported interest circling around him, with recently relegated Newcastle being the latest club thought to be keeping tabs on the Derby man. Whatever club he plies his trade at next season, it is certain that we will be an influential player for them.

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