3/1 To Win
Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne says he's looking forward to giving Craig Forsyth a 'memory that he deserves' at his Testimonial Game on Saturday.
The long-serving defender will stage his Testimonial Game against Sky Bet Championship side on Stoke City on Saturday and the Head Coach couldn't reinforce just how much he believes he deserves it.
Speaking to RamsTV, Warne previewed what he believes will be an 'emotional' day at Pride Park Stadium on this weekend.
On Craig Forsyth himself...
Being honest and I have told Fozzy this, when I first came in I thought he wasn't for me! I don't mean that as a person but him as a footballer but it didn't take him long to win me round.
There are certain players that you get that are high maintenance but you kind of have to accept it with their ability and then there's the dreams that are the low maintenance and the high outputs and Fozzy is one of them.
His on field performances are similar to his off the field life. He's a family man, he's good around the dressing room, brilliant with the pros and staff and he has loads of tight relationships with them. He's a really good guy.
I was fortunate to have a Testimonial season at Rotherham United and I remember driving to the game and I was really emotional about it. It meant a lot to me so I appreciate what one is.
It's not the financial gift, it's the emotional gift I think. I know that Fozzy will see it like that.
Fortunately Stoke City have allowed us to have some of his former team-mates play at the end of the game ,which is nice for Fozzy and his kids.
I also think a Testimonial is for all of his family. They can go and enjoy it because it's just about celebrating what he's done at the club and giving him a memory that he deserves.
On what Fozzy has been through over the last decade...
It says he's resilient first and foremost. To play for different managers with different styles shows how resilient he is. He's played for all of them. It shows how adaptable and resilient he is as a player and his personality suits being at a club for 10 years.
The sea is always calm with Fozzy and he always gives himself the opportunity to see what he can and can't do. He's proved to every manager that he's worthy of a starting place and to have a starting place at this football club is some achievement. He's resilient, he's calm and he's intelligent. They are the personalities all managers want to keep.
On the ex-players Johnson, Bryson, Waghorn and Nugent being allowed to play...
My only concern is if they come on and we're amazing I'll have to take them into a separate room after the game and bring a pen and everything! I've got more options on the bench with them that's for sure. I look forward to making some crazy substitutions.
On the squad...
Korey Smith is back in training today, Kane Wilson is back but a long way off proper fitness right now. Louie Sibley is running and should be back trianing next week. Conor Washington will be training next week and Tom Barkhuizen should be next week. They are all sort of coming back, but won't be 100% match fit. We are still assessing Callum Elder day-by-day.
