SATURDAY PROVED TO be a massive afternoon for 18-year-old Irish midfielder Jason Knight, the teenager handed his first Championship start as Derby County were held 1-1 by West Brom.
Knight signed a three-year contract with Derby last November and was named on the bench by Frank Lampard for the club’s crucial play-off meetings with Leeds United and Aston Villa in May.
Today saw the highly-rated underage international take another big step in his development. Knight started in midfield alongside Tom Huddlestone and played a full 90 minutes before being substituted off by Phillip Cocu in stoppage time.
Knight also featured earlier this season for the Rams. He came on for his official senior debut in the 88th minute in a 2-1 win away to Huddersfield Town at John Smith’s Stadium back in August.
I like Jason Knight. So good at finding space, lovely touch, makes the right pass, good energy, good awareness. Had a very good half an hour here. #DCFC
— Ryan Conway (@RJConway92) August 24, 2019
Martyn Waghorn opened the scoring for Derby from the penalty spot on Saturday at Pride Park after the 29-year-old striker was brought down inside the area.
Cocu’s men looked on track to bag all three points, before Kenneth Zohore levelled with seven minutes left on the clock, also from the penalty spot, after Matheus Pereira was penalised for a foul.
Knight came close to scoring in the second half. The midfielder carved open a pocket of space inside his opponent’s box but saw his right-footed volley saved well by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone before the teenager missed a follow-up chance.
Murray joins Bernard and Gavan with all the latest from training camp in Portugal, including a concerning update on Joey Carbery’s fitness. Plus, BBC Scotland’s Tom English explains why the Scots have a negative perception of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team.
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