Thursday morning at Derby County’s Moor Farm training base and the head of performance, Luke Jenkinson, is putting a revamped squad through its paces as they build towards their League One opener at home to Oxford on Saturday.
Soon after Liam Rosenior, interim manager, following the departure of Wayne Rooney, tots up the number of passes as his players try to score in miniature goals. Then it is time for an 11 v 11 game on a full pitch – purple bibs v green. Rosenior is in his element. “Shape, shape,” urges Richard Stearman. Summer arrival Tom Barkhuizen whips a delicious cross in from the left for another new face, Korey Smith, who crashes a header against the bar. Ben Warner, the head of analysis, controls a drone overhead.
