Derby County’s assistant head coach Richie Barker has revealed an encouraging injury update on young centre-back Jake Rooney.
Jake Rooney saw his world come crashing down in September after rupturing knee ligaments in Derby‘s defeat against Bolton Wanderers.
The young centre-back broke into the first-team last term following his move from Burnley and looked the part as a ball-playing defender.
Rooney was used on the right side and in the centre of defence, featuring nine times in League One for the Rams. The talented youngster firmly established himself as an important first-team member, despite only turning 20 last August.
Paul Warne unleashed him alongside Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson in wins over Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United at the start of the season.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Sadly, the third match of that sequence – a defeat to Bolton – saw him suffer a devastating long-term injury.
Seven months on from rupturing his knee ligaments, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for Rooney following the most difficult period of his career.
Richie Barker shares positive news on Jake Rooney
Rooney is pushing hard for a return, and although most felt they wouldn’t see him till pre-season, there are genuine hopes that he will join a training session before the campaign ends. That would be an incredible story considering the severity of his injury.
Derby’s assistant head coach Richie Barker has revealed that Rooney is due to see a specialist in the coming days and is pleased with the progress he’s making.
“Jake is doing really well,” Barker told the Derby Telegraph. “He is not training with us yet but he is due a scan/specialist appointment in the next few days.
“I think that will tell him when he can move to the next level. I think some of that next level is joining in with us really.”
Rooney has been sidelined for the best part of seven months, and Barker accepts that his transition back into the first-team picture will be managed correctly.
He added: “We will have to be careful obviously and he will be slowly integrated back in. He’s done so well. Not many people suffer the injury he has and be close to competing in another league game in the same season.”
Jake Rooney is Eiran Cashin’s heir
Derby’s most saleable asset, Eiran Cashin, is enjoying an incredible campaign at Pride Park.
The ball-playing defender has anchored the ship sailing towards promotion alongside Nelson having signed a new contract with the club in February.
Despite committing his future to the Rams, supporters accept that he could depart the club one day, especially after coming close to joining Brighton last summer.
Warne was adamant he’d hold onto Cashin in January, successfully doing so, but more interest is likely to come his way following a near-fautless season.
If the 22-year-old does leave Derby after 15 years of service, Rooney could be next in line to replace him in defence.
Rising through the youth academy like Cashin and boasting similar ball-playing attributes, the 20-year-old certainly has the potential to replace his compatriot in the future and is regarded is one of the clubs hottest prospects.
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