This week has been filled with debate surrounding Hulse, Hendrie and the departures of the Rams most unwanted. The other not so hyped news of Miles Addison being selected for the England U21’s could prove to be more about the future than any stories the transfer window produced.

Forums and message boards have been divided, debating the current Derby squad and the direction it is taking. The mix of unknown youth and recent injection of seemingly washed up stars of yesterday, has inflamed opinion before most of the names involved have pulled on a Derby shirt.

Time will be the judge of decisions Nigel and his staff have made as well as the players that they have brought into the squad, the position the team holds at seasons end will point to mistakes or masterstrokes.

No matter what becomes of 09/10, (unless the club is relegated) one thing that is for sure is it will the season in which Miles Addison arrives and proves to be a symbol of things to come for Derby County football club.

Miles was fabulous last season with some gutsy performances when forced to mature quickly in a squad that was undermanned and under pressure. It is this season when he will be allowed to blossom and prove to be a pointer to the future which was underlined this week with his first international selection.

Addison is the rock that Nigel will build his team around for years to come, the next captain of the team and a player that has the tools in his bag to build a career that will see him become one of the most accomplished players in recent Rams history. He has composure, strength and an eye for attack which will only improve as he adds experience to his game.

As a team builds around Miles and those placed around him fall into place, I genuinely believe he will become a leader who, in the way Stimac did, will pull the squad up by the scruff of the neck, shaping and inspiring results rather than just playing his part. He has already shown signs of this and the evidence would suggest that there is more to come.

Former youth academy boss and caretaker manager Terry Westley gave Addison his first team debut and when speaking to thisisderbyshire.co.uk, was sure his former charger has what it takes to go all the way.

"If you get into the Under-21 squad, you are getting towards the main set-up, so it is a great achievement for Miles. Once you get to this stage, you starting thinking: 'You know what? I'm not a million miles off here. Most full international players will have played at Under-21 level. It is a natural progression nowadays”.

"Miles' next goal is to see if he can get some time on the pitch in these two games and then move on and try to establish himself there. Then, he can look to take it a step further. Miles has always been fiercely competitive and he has taken that from schoolboy to adult football,"

"You get that feeling sometimes – I had it with Tom Huddlestone too."

His opinion was obviously shared by the international selectors who have recognised the potential of a player who performances have been solid this season even though at times under huge pressure.

The comparison that Westley made to Huddlestone is definitely a compliment but hopefully the comparison will end at his drive and playing ability and not the sad and resentful exit from the club that occurred with Tom.

Miles must be kept by DCFC, nurtured and developed as a long term leader who will take Derby into the future. This will assist in growing the talented youth that Nigel is trying to inject into the club and also assist in stability that the team has seriously lacked for so long.

This season experience has been placed all around these youngsters and I have no doubt that Clough has had that in mind when bringing these former superstars into the club. Their input may be limited in what they have to offer the club on the pitch but what they can teach players off the pitch is just as invaluable.

It is my belief that Miles Addison is a player that Derby will become very proud of and providing they can match his development with on field achievement, they could form a partnership of success that finds them both playing at the level of football they deserve.

Perhaps one day Miles will be a full England International who captains both club and country. Even better would be alongside Nigel who in turn might one day complete another of his father’s dreams and coach the national team.

Pie in the sky maybe... but it's much better to look up than down.
 
We have already been doing that for far too long.

Photo: Action Images

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