The Robins head to Staffordshire this Saturday to face 19th-placed Leek Town in the Northern Premier League.
Following Tuesday’s hard-fought Emirates FA Cup Second Round Replay defeat to Hereford, Ian Deakin’s squad will be eager to bounce back and continue their strong league form.
This week saw the departure of experienced full-back Connor Brown, who made six appearances since joining the Robins in the summer. We wish Connor all the best in his future endeavors.
On Friday, the club announced the signing of promising young midfielder Casey Johnson.
The 18-year-old, son of Rams legend Seth Johnson, is available for selection for Saturday’s match at Leek.
Speaking to the media team, Johnson shared his excitement:
“I’ve known Deaks since I was 16, he gave me my debut at Long Eaton, so when he reached out, it was an easy decision to sign. I’m versatile, I like getting involved in the goals, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Manager Ian Deakin also shared his thoughts ahead of the weekend:
“We’re excited to return to league action against Leek. After the FA Cup loss earlier this week, we’re hoping to get back to winning ways. I was proud of the lads’ efforts across both games. We played well and created chances, but football doesn’t always reward you as it should. The mood in the camp is still positive.
“Leek is a difficult place to visit. They’re a good club, and league positions mean very little in this division—every game is tough. We need to approach it with the right mentality. Thankfully, we’ve had some players return to training this week.
“Casey Johnson joins us, and he’s a fantastic young talent. I gave him his debut at Long Eaton when he was just 16, and he scored. He’s someone I’ve followed for a while, and it’s great to bring him in, especially as a local player.
“We’re committed to giving local lads opportunities. You can see how well young Harvey Kirby-Moore is doing; he’s thriving, and we want to build a team of young, exciting players who will stay together for the next two or three years. Harvey and Casey are going to be key players for us.”