Why Matt Derbyshire is the Future of the England National Team (sort of)

On second thoughts that headline might be overstating things a wee bit. Derbyshire has six goals in 13 Under 21 caps, but he’s 23 now and unlikely to be making the full squad anytime soon.

So the headline is less about the player himself, and more about his recent transfer. The Blackburn striker has spent the last six months on loan at Olympiacos, but seems it was more than just an extended sun holiday. Derbyshire’s move appears to have been made permanent, for a fee of around €3.5m.

Good move I say. Rather than rotting on the Blackburn bench or dropping down to a Championship team, Derbyshire has moved abroad. To a Champions League team, no less. Or at least a team in the third qualifying round for the group stage.

I’m not saying this is a step up. But it’s still a move I wish more English players would make.

I’m thinking of young players like Daniel Sturridge (19) and players around Derbyshire’s age (approaching mid-20s) who aren’t quite Premier League first team regulars.

Those players could probably do a great job for a Greek team, or a Portuguese team, or maybe a French team. A move (even a loan move) can get you some first team football and exposure to another culture (both football and otherwise) to help these guys develop as both players and people.

We keep hearing that there are “too many foreigners” in the Premier League. And I agree. In terms of English players getting a chance to play for English teams, there are too many foreigners in the English Premier League. But – as Derbyshire has proven – there are other leagues in the world. All you need is an up to date passport and an agent who knows how to dial international codes.