Curtis Nelson has hailed one of his Derby County teammates as ‘brilliant’ and claimed he has a ‘good relationship’ with him.
Derby County enter their season finale with Carlisle United needing just a point to seal their return to the Championship.
The Rams have been reborn as a club since David Clowes tookover in July 2022 with success in the transfer market transpiring onto the pitch.
Derby were forced to bring in players on free transfers as they were hamstrung by EFL regulations last summer. This turned out to be a blessing as it saw centre-back Curtis Nelson arrive on a free transfer from Blackpool.
The 30-year-old has been outstanding this term and has played a key role in the club’s promotion push with the Rams currently boasting the best defensive record in League One.
Paul Warne’s men have shipped just 37 goals this term and that solidity is built from the relationship he’s built with one particular teammate.
Curtis Nelson lauds ‘brilliant’ Eiran Cashin
Nelson has formed a telepathic understanding with partnerEiran Cashin in the heart of the Derby defence. The incredible duo have earned plaudits for developing a partnership that has played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion hopes.
While Cashin deservedly claimed the Young Player of the Year award, his defensive partner won the Player of the Year award following his magnificent season.
The former Cardiff City stalwart owes a lot of that to the relationship he’s developed on the pitch with the 22-year-old, lauding his talent as “top drawer”.
Speaking at the awards ceremony last night, as relayed by the Derby Telegraph, Nelson said: “Cash is brilliant. We all see how good he is every week. He is top drawer. I think from the beginning we just had a good relationship on and off the pitch as I do with Sonny as well.
“It’s good to have that relationship. You can’t just turn up and think you can perform on a Saturday, you have to put the work in.
“Cash is a good pro. He’s been told to get in the gym to do his core work so I drag him in with me. It’s worked for me, but it’s not for everyone. Sports science has changed a lot since I first started. It’s got so much better. We have the facilities to do it at Derby so he just needs to keep using it to propel himself.”
Derby County’s partnership looks set for the Championship
Providing Derby get over the line against Carlisle, Warne can start planning for life in the Championship next season.
The 50-year-old will need to improve several positions and bolster his squad with depth, especially as 12 players see their contracts at Pride Park expire in June.
Improvements to the squad will undoubtedly be made, although Derby’s defensive duo of Cashin and Nelson can ensure the transition into the second tier is seamless.
The first rule of any successful team is a strong defence. There is no success without having a watertight back line and if Warne can keep his influential pairing together, he has a solid base to build from in the Championship.
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