Derby County’s George Evans has endured a tough start to the 2019/20 season, but he is keen to make an impact as the busy schedule starts to kick in.
It’s been a stop-start spell for Evans, who signed for the club from Reading for an undisclosed fee in the 2018 summer transfer window.
He picked up a number of injuries last season which halted his progression and saw him playing catch up.
In the games Evans played, however, he looked impressive.
The ball-playing former Manchester City midfielder came in at the end of last season against Bristol City and put in a solid display at centre-back as the Rams secured a valuable three points which would help them make the play-offs.
The summer allowed Evans to get his head down and focus ahead of the new season. He worked hard to get into the manager’s plans and started the season well, bu, an injury to his quad forced him out for two months.
It’s been a tough period for the 24-year-old, but he’s worked hard and forced his way back into Phillip Cocu’s squad and featured in the last two fixtures.
He replaced Krystian Bielik against Middlesbrough whilst he came on for Matt Clarke, who limped off injured against Nottingham Forest, before the international break
Evans now offers an option to the manager and is hoping if selected he can take it against Preston North End who visit Pride Park Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
“I am always happy to come on, obviously I want to be in the starting line-up, which is more important, but I am happy to come on whether it is the first minute or for one minute,” he told RamsTV. “I just want to be on the pitch and try to help the club move forward.
“I felt like I was just starting to get going then picked up another injury. Since I have been here, I have been very frustrated, stop-starting. It’s not good, but hopefully it is all behind me now and I can kick on.
“It is part of the job and part of football to get injured. I want to get a run of games together and I want to play like anyone does. Part of football is getting injured, it comes with it. I just want to recover quick, get myself back involved and go and play some games now.”
His return from injury could not have been timed better as the busy schedule starts to kick in and with injuries starting to take their toll on the Rams squad.
“The games come thick and fast now; we have three games in the next week coming up,” he said. “It is a big period now and hopefully we can get a run of games together and pick up some vital wins.
“Sometimes the break comes at a good time, likewise though, it can come at bad times as well. When you pick up a bit of momentum, you don’t want the break to come.
“We have had a bit of time now to work on the training pitch and hopefully we can go and show what we have been working on Saturday and go and get a win.”