Player Profile: Matt Derbyshire

Full Name: Matthew Derbyshire
Date of Birth: 14th April 1986, Blackburn
Nationality: English
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 27
Internationals: Capped at youth level for England
Signed: 2003
Previous Clubs: Great Harwood Town (local team), Plymouth Argyle (loan from Rovers) & Wrexham (loan from Rovers)

Matt Derbyshire is another local lad who Rovers have successfully brought through the youth system having signed him from a local team a few years back.

A small fee was involved when Derbyshire was picked up from a Great Harwood Town after it became apparent the youngster had talent and more importantly knew where the goal was! This fee appears to be money well spent.

The 20-year-old had featured in a few squads in the past but before this season had only made one senior appearance, so in order for the former England youth forward to gain first team experience he has had loan spells away from Ewood Park. The first came with Plymouth Argyle, with whom he failed to score in thirteen appearances but most of these were made as a late, late substitute. A change of manager didn't help his cause with Argyle either.

However his highly successful spell with Wrexham at the end of the 2005-2006 season in which he scored 9 goals in 10 appearances including two on his debut lead to praise from Mark Hughes.

It was thought his chances during the 2006-2007 season would be few and far between but in recent weeks he has featured in first team squads and had a little game time due to injuries to others. Saturday 9th December saw him play the full second half against Newcastle United and he impressed, with his first Rovers start coming against Nancy in the UEFA Cup the following week, he played the full 90 minutes.

Derbyshire is a player that Hughes rates highly, using him regularly in pre-season in 2005 and 2006 and although reserve team football is good for him and he is a regular starter as well as regular goalscorer Hughes had been keen to send him out on loan again. Thus far this hasn't happened this season and hopefully it won't and he'll continue to be given a chance, albeit it limited chances in the absence of others as I'm sure he'll take it.

Blackburn Rovers appearances and goals up to the start of the 2006-2007 Season
League: 1 (as sub)
FA Cup: 0
League Cup: 0
Other (European etc.): 0
TOTAL: 1 - 0 goals

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