BURTON Albion midfielder Matty Palmer will be facing up against his former club Derby County tonight, the team that let him go as a youngster.
The Derby-born midfielder joined Derby’s academy at a young age and stayed their for some time before making his move.Palmer said: “I started at their academy when I was eight years old and stayed there for eight years until I was 16 so I went through all of the age groups.
“I really enjoyed it, it’s put me in good stead for where I am now.”
He will be facing up against the badge he once wore and he knows the importance of this game, not just for the players but for the fans too.
“It’s obviously a massive game, a local derby,” said Palmer.
“All the fans looked for that as the first game, as players we’re all looking forward to it and want to challenge ourselves.
“Derby have got a good team and were up there last season so I’m sure it will be big challenge and we’re looking forward to it.”
Palmer will be making sure his, and his team mates heads are on the game come Friday evening, without letting the occasion get the better of them.
He said: “I think you have just got take it as another game because you don’t want to let the occasion get the better of you.
“We’ve just got to concentrate on what we can do as a team, and what I can do and hopefully that’s good enough on Friday.”
Matty will be playing against one his old school friends in Will Hughes. They both attended Repton school as youngsters, and have now both climbed their way into the Championship.
“We went so school together and we were always against each other at school so a bit of rivalry was always good, it probably got the best out of both of us. I’m looking forward to Friday.”