Derby County Supporters Club, Norway Branch

​ALBERTO Bueno helped Derby County Reserves to a 6-2 victory over Barnsley Reserves at Oakwell last night in his first taste of English football.
The 22-year-old Spaniard will now be in the squad for Saturday's first-team game against Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium and is looking forward to the challenge after arriving on a season-long loan from Real Valladolid.
Bueno played behind lone striker Callum Ball for the Reserves in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
He was on the pitch 63 minutes, produced some eye-catching moments and almost scored with a wonderful lob from distance.
His control, touch, awareness and vision were clear to see and he knows he will have to get used to the physical side of the English game.
"I wanted to play desperately to help me to get to know English football," said Bueno after the game.
"I know it is going to be different to playing in Spain, it is going to be much more physical and I am going to have to get used to that.
"I enjoyed the game. I would have liked to have scored and I was close but the main thing was to experience English football and I feel I can get better and better the more I play.
"Now I am really looking forward to Saturday and being involved with the first team in whichever way."
Conor Doyle should be available for the weekend clash with Sheffield United despite jarring his ankle at Barnsley.
The 18-year-old American forward picked up the injury in the first half and as a precaution he did not come out for the second half.
It was the Reserves' second win in three matches in the totesport.com League Central Division as they look to defend the title they won last season.

DARREN Wassall feels Derby County's under-18 team deserved more from their two league games this season.

The Rams lost 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in their opening fixture in the FA Premier Academy League Group D and fell 4-3 to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

"We have been on the wrong end of two results but we can take a lot of heart from the two performances," said Wassall, the Academy manager and youth team manager.

He added: "We don't like to lose matches, obviously, but the manner in which we played against Blackburn on Saturday was very pleasing.

"Basic errors cost us the game.

"We were two down after 20 minutes and it wasn't looking pretty but the lads showed a lot of character. They rolled their sleeves up and kept wanting to get the ball down and play.

"They got their just rewards and went 3-2 up. Callum Ball scored two and Aaron Cole the other when he finished off a superb move.

"We have been telling him in training to hit the target. He did and he scored.

"We looked like we would go on and win. We were the better side but with 15 minutes to go we lost the ball in midfield and seconds later it was in the back of our net.

"Even at 3-3, you think you can go on and win the game but a mix-up at the back cost us and we ended up losing 4-3."

Ball has been in the goals this season.

The 17-year-old striker also scored against Tottenham and was on target for their Reserves in their 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.

"He has got the bit between his teeth at the moment and he caused Tottenham and Blackburn a lot of problems," said Wassall.

"His attitude from day one has been excellent and he is getting his rewards. Similarly, we cannot fault the attitude of the whole of the youth team squad since we started back on July 1.

"They have put their lot in and we are just disappointed their effort and play in the first two games have not brought them greater reward because they have deserved that.

"We cannot get too disappointed. We have to go to Liverpool on Saturday and if we start the game like we did against Blackburn, we will be two down again.

"But if we start well and earn the right to play, then we will hold our own."

ALBERTO Bueno could make his first appearance in a Derby County shirt tonight.

The 22-year-old Spanish forward has been training this week after arriving on a season-long loan from Real Valladolid.

He is expected to be involved in Saturday's Championship clash against Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium but, first, he could be handed a run out in the Reserves' totesport.com League Central Division match against Barnsley at Oakwell this evening (7pm).

"Alberto has shown some good touches in training, he can obviously play a little bit – he has played up front with Raul in a Champions League game for Real Madrid," said Rams manager Nigel Clough.

"He will just need time to get up to speed with the English game and that might involve 45 minutes at Barnsley, which is fine.

"He wants to play and get to the pace of the game as soon as possible. Playing him in the Reserves is in our mind. We will see how he is.

"The players had a good running session in Spain last week and Alberto joined in.

"He also trained with the youth team on Friday, so it is all good time spent for him.

"Technically, we have got no problem at all but the speed of the game might take him by surprise."

Bueno boosts Derby's options in the three positions behind the striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation being used by the first team.

Kris Commons, Paul Green, Tomasz Cywka, Conor Doyle, Dean Moxey and Ben Pringle have all featured there so far this season.

David Martin can also play there, as can Stephen Pearson, who is working his way back to fitness following knee surgery and should start training this month.

"It is nice to have those options in the three that play behind the striker," said Clough.

"There are plenty of options and Alberto is one of them."

Derby are looking to bring in a centre forward on loan following the departures of Rob Hulse, to Queens Park Rangers, and Luke Varney, to Blackpool.

Moxey and Commons have filled the role in the past two matches and Chris Porter (hip) should return to training in the next week or so.

PAUL Green won his fifth cap for the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last night and helped Giovanni Trapattoni's men maintained their 100% start to the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

The Derby County midfielder got another 90 minutes of international football under his belt as Ireland beat Andorra 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium.

The result means that Ireland top Group B after two games, following their 1-0 win in Armenia on Friday, on goal difference from Slovakia, who beat Russia 1-0 yesterday.

Kevin Kilbane opened the scoring against Andorra with a 14th-minute header from Liam Lawrence's corner.

Kevin Doyle doubled the lead five minutes before the break with a superb long-range effort.

But the visitors struck back through Christian Martinez's fine strike on the stroke of half-time.

Ireland's third goal, in which Green had a hand, after 54 minutes, calmed the home fans' nerves.

Robbie Keane provided the finish to a slick move with his 44th international goal.

Green will now travel back to England to join up with the Rams ahead of their Championship match at home to Sheffield United on Saturday.

WEST Bromwich Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo is willing to let striker Chris Wood go out on loan as soon as injuries to Ishmael Miller and Roman Bednar have cleared up.

Derby County are keen to take the 18-year-old on loan and were close to signing him ahead of the game against Queens Park Rangers until Albion picked up injuries.

Di Matteo would like Wood to play regular first-team football and Albion say 10 Championship clubs are on the trail of the New Zealand international, who played at this summer's World Cup finals.

"Derby have been in touch," said Di Matteo.

"Of course it would benefit him to go out on loan.

"At his age, he will only get better by playing regularly.

"In our team, he might get some chances to play but he won't be playing week-in, week-out.

"Where he is now in his career, he will only benefit by playing every week.

"I have no doubt he could do a job in the Championship. Let's give him the chance to play in the Championship and then he can hopefully make the step up to the Premier League."

Derby might have to wait a few weeks if they are to land Wood because Miller has a thigh problem and Bednar an Achilles injury.

Albion's sporting and technical director, Dan Ashworth, said: "We've had 10 Championship clubs in touch with us about Chris – not just Derby.

"No deal has been agreed with any club yet and none will be agreed unless it suits West Bromwich Albion.

"I'm not surprised there is so much interest in him, because he has done very well for us last season and enjoyed a terrific World Cup."

DERBY County's man in the mask, Tomasz Cywka, will be hoping to pick up where he left off before the international break.

Cywka's performance in the last game, the 2-2 home draw against Queens Park Rangers, caught the eye.

He replaced the injured Kris Commons shortly before half-time and was a constant menace to Rangers in the second half.

The Polish Under-21 international was positive in everything he did.

He played a big part in Derby's second goal when he left two Rangers defenders and surged into the area before he set up James Bailey to score.

And it was Cywka's pass that sent Bailey clear deep into stoppage time when Derby led 2-1.

The game would have been over had Bailey scored but Paddy Kenny saved and Rangers grabbed a last-gasp equaliser.

Cywka's tireless and clever display earned praise from manager Nigel Clough and has put the 22-year-old in line to start when Sheffield United visit Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

He also showed against Rangers that he is becoming more accustomed to wearing the mask, which protects the cheekbone he fractured in the home defeat by Cardiff City less than four weeks ago.

It happened in an accidental collision in the first half which left Cywka and Cardiff full-back Kevin McNaughton needing treatment. But both battled on.

Cywka underwent surgery the following day and the specialist said, ideally, the player should not be involved in any physical contact for two to three weeks.

Six days later he featured as a substitute against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena before he came off the bench to face Rangers.

Clough has been impressed with the character and determination shown by Cywka.

"He is feeling a lot more confident playing with the mask on," said Clough.

"He said what helped him was, when he came on against QPR, he got hit in the face with the ball. It hit him on the mask and it felt fine, the mask did the job it is there to do.

"Tomasz did very well indeed. It was probably as well as he has played this season."

Cywka started in the 2-1 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road on the opening day.

Playing on the right side of the three behind the striker, he won the penalty from which Kris Commons coolly converted for Derby's second and winning goal.

Cywka played 74 minutes and then lined up in the Carling Cup tie at Crewe a few days later.

His first goal for the Rams and his first in English football came in the next game against Cardiff when he nipped in to beat David Marshall from eight yards after good work by Luke Varney.

Quick, but not lightning fast, his ability to dart into gaps and twist and turn away from markers adds urgency to the attacking play. He makes defenders think and shows strength beyond his stature.

"Tomasz got us the penalty at Leeds, got his first goal for us against Cardiff and set up James Bailey's goal against QPR but we feel there is lots more to come from him," said Clough.

"He's hardly played in the last two or three years in terms of League football and he just needs that experience.

"He isn't the finished article by any means but he has plenty of talent and potential. We're confident he can develop with us."

Cywka completed a permanent move on a free from Wigan Athletic this summer following a loan spell with the Rams last season.

He spent four years at Wigan but made only two senior appearances, both in cup competitions.

A loan spell at Oldham Athletic in October 2006 saw him play five games but only one was from the start.

He arrived at Derby on loan at the end of March and started the final four matches of the season against Barnsley, Crystal Palace, Bristol City and Cardiff City.

His lively displays in the home games against Palace and Cardiff were appreciated by supporters and provided a taster of what we saw against Rangers.

KRIS Commons has handed Derby County a boost ahead of their return to Championship action this weekend.

Alarm bells started to ring when a tight hamstring forced the Scottish international forward off a minute before half-time in the home draw against Queens Park Rangers 10 days ago.

But Commons was back training yesterday and is in line to face Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

The news is a relief to the Rams because Commons was plagued by hamstring trouble for much of last season.

"Kris came off against QPR as a precaution because we didn't want his hamstring to go which would have meant six to eight weeks out," said manager Nigel Clough.

"The international break has been ideal for him. He has had three or four days' rest and he's back training.

"It is a relief and now we hope he will have a good week's training.

"What happened is probably a result of him not having played much for two years and having had an intense period of five games in three weeks at the start of this season.

"He is still building his match fitness and match time to get to a stage where he can play a number of games in a handful of weeks and not feel it. He is not quite at that stage."

Commons has started Derby's five games so far and has scored two goals.

He played up front against QPR and put the Rams one up.

Striker Chris Porter (hip) is a doubt for the weekend and Russell Anderson will not feature for the Reserves at Barnsley tomorrow but the Scot could be on the bench against Sheffield United.

The experienced defender has been sidelined since suffering a groin strain in the victory over Leeds United on the opening day of the season.

"Russell is doing 90% of the work and he might be able to train on Friday and be on the bench on Saturday without playing in the Reserves," said Clough.

Midfielder Stephen Pearson continues to make progress following knee surgery at the end of last season.

"We are looking for him to start training within the next two weeks," said Clough.

Young forward Ryan Connolly has undergone the first of two operations on his injured knee.

The 18-year-old suffered cruciate ligament damage playing for the Academy last month.

"He has had his cartilage repaired and will now have to wait a few weeks before he embarks on the next operation on his ligaments," said Clough.

DERBY County manager Nigel Clough is willing to wait to land the right striker on loan.

The Rams were set to bring in West Bromwich Albion forward Chris Wood until injuries at Albion stalled the deal only days before the transfer window closed last week.

Derby might have to wait a handful of weeks before the injuries to Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller clear up.

Although the Rams remain very keen on Wood, the 18-year-old New Zealand international, they do have another loan target in their sights.

"We did have a deal (for Chris Wood) lined up and, unfortunately, because of injuries at his club, that one has been shelved just for the time being," said Clough.

"We hope to revisit that in the next four to six weeks but we will keep knocking on the door every week or so to see if there has been any development.

"We will keep waiting because we think he would fit in but we are making another enquiry. If we got that one, it would be to January anyway, so we wouldn't chase the other one.

"They are two good strikers and if we cannot get one of them, we will wait for somebody similar."

The window for emergency loan signings opens today.

"It is tempting just to get somebody in but there is no point in us bringing somebody in just for the sake of it. Loan signings must be better than what we have got already," said Clough.

Strikers Rob Hulse and Luke Varney have left Derby in the past two weeks while Spanish youngster Alberto Bueno has arrived on a season-long loan from Real Valladolid. Hulse joined Queens Park Rangers in a permanent deal and Varney moved to Blackpool on loan.

"We have lost Rob and Luke but both had started only one game this season," added Clough. "Bringing Alberto Bueno in gives us options and Kris Commons started up front against QPR and looked OK and got a goal.

"Tomasz Cywka did very well when he came on against QPR and we have our emergency striker, Dean Moxey.

"Commons, Cywka and Moxey are three good options when we are only playing one up there and they were not the reasons why we didn't beat Coventry and QPR.

"The striker issue is a talking point at the moment but the other thing the fans are saying is that they are absolutely delighted with how well we are playing. They are loving the football, loving the passing."