Derby County signing with a 'sharp nut' receives Paul Warne instruction

Derby County head coach Paul Warne
-Credit: (Image: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire)


Paul Warne said he feels sorry for summer signing Tawanda Chirewa but says he has put the midfielder's intelligence to good use ahead of Derby County's clash against Norwich City next week.

The on-loan Wolves midfielder missed last weekend's win over Cardiff City due to concussion protocols, but is pushing to be involved against Sheffield United this week.

Chirewa has only played 45 minutes against Barrow in the League Cup after his arrival from Molineux and he was named on the bench against Bristol City but didn't come on as the Rams coasted to a 3-0 win.

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He then left for international duty with Zimbabwe but suffered a head injury. Rams head coach Warne has sympathised with the midfielder but says he has handed him some homework ahead of the visit of the Canaries.

"He played 45 minutes to brush the cobwebs off against Barrow, which seems like a different season," he said. "It almost feels like it was the 90s and I have just come out of watching Neverending Story.

"But because of the concussion protocol, I feel a bit sorry for him because you're a little bit like a loner and he is not allowed to take contact for ages. I remember speaking to him after the Bristol City game and apologising that I couldn't get him on and he said no worries and that he was glad the team won. Then he left for international duty.

"He trained with the group for two days, played 45 minutes, left for international duty and then been through concussion protocols. But he's a really intelligent kid. He's an absolute sponge. If he came in and he'd give you a lecture like a Ted Talk, he's some sharp nut. I've got him doing homework on other midfielders.

"And I've got him watching Norwich midfielders for next week because it feels like his days are undernourished at the moment."

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