Former Derby County star Shaun Barker is of the view that the Rams have missed a player of new boy Ebou Adams calibre in their midfield this season.
The 28-year-old midfielder spent the first half of the season as a bit part player in Erol Bulut’s Cardiff City side and decided to join Derby on loan for regular game time.
Paul Warne gave Adams his debut in Derby colours on Saturday against Charlton Athletic, where he helped the League One outfit secure a 1-0 victory away from home.
Barker stated that Derby have needed a midfielder of Adams’ calibre to win second balls and challenges in midfield for a long time.
And the former Derby star pointed out that Adams’ presence in midfield will help Max Bird and Conor Hourihane do the technical things that they are good at.
“I think the impact he has made in his opening game goes to show what we have been lacking and what we have been missing this season”, Barker told Rams TV.
“We needed a destructive midfielder that goes around, wins second balls and challenges.
“He was quite lucky on one of the challenges [against Charlton] to only get a booking, but he was full-blooded and full throttle in the first 45 minutes and that for me just adds that little bit of composure and a little bit of time for the likes of Max Bird, who again was outstanding and Conor [Hourihane], just to get on the ball and play some of the stuff that they can do technically.
“We have missed a player like that.
“We have been crying out for one and hopefully he is the player that will go straight into midfield and make the difference that I saw he made this afternoon.”
Derby will hope that the 28-year-old midfielder will be able to aid their attempt to get back in the Championship this season.
