Kieran Dowell joined Derby County on a season-long loan and has been a regular under Phillip Cocu. The 21-year-old has been short of playing time at Everton, featuring only five times in the last two years, and embarked upon a temporary move away to get first-team football.
Dowell has made six appearances for the Rams, making one assist. He started in Derby’s 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town (August 5), 0-0 draw with Swansea City (August 10), 2-2 draw with Stoke City (August 17), 2-1 defeat to Bristol City (August 20), 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion (August 24) and 3-0 defeat to Brentford (August 31).
The England u21 international has racked up 500 minutes of Championship football this season, making 10 chances, eight successful dribbles (89%), completing 76.5% of his 39 passes per game, whipping in 27 crosses with 19% accuracy, hitting the target with 25% of his 12 shots and averaging a tackle (8) or interception (2) every 50 minutes.
Whether Dowell has a future at Everton remains to be seen, but he needs to improve to put himself in the shop window at Derby. Cocu told Derbyshire Live: “When you take a look at his qualities, I think he can do better and he has to do better. We can expect more from him, yes.”
The Rams next face Cardiff City on Friday, September 13.