Our Robert Lee reports.
In August 2023, then 17-year-old Lennon Wheeldon made his senior debut for Derby coming off the bench in the Bristol Street Motors Cup.
Since then, he’s had a fantastic season with the Derby U18s’ side having totalled 19 goal involvements so far, including 11 goals scored.
In a recent interview at Moor Farm, the DCFC training ground, Wheeldon credited the strong academy setup at the club for helping him progress to the level he finds himself at now.
Despite having not made an appearance for the senior side in the league, the striker was confident he could push on to make one before the end of the current campaign.
“Derby’s a club that gives opportunities out whenever you’ve earned it,” said Wheeldon.
“There’s a lot of opportunities to express yourself and show the first team gaffer that you’re ready and that you’re good enough to play for the first team.”
Even in the short time Wheeldon played with the senior side, having debuted for the last 17 minutes of the Rams’ 4-1 victory over Wolves U21s, he showed promise.
Just moments after coming on, he won possession on the right flank and lofted a cross into Kane Wilson, whose header went narrowly over the crossbar.
Wheeldon said it was an “amazing” feeling to make his debut in front of his family, and “in that moment your dream has come true in a sense”.
He continued by praising members of the first team with helping him integrate so easily to the dressing room: “Some of them were sat here like me two years ago, so it was obviously nice to get advice from them.”
Wheeldon spoke about his upbringing in football, having come to the game quite late compared to most of his teammates, starting at age nine.
He feels his progress has been heavily reliant on the strong support he gets from those closest to him, especially considering he has family ties to local rivals Nottingham Forest.
“Whatever club you’re at, you’ve got to support it,” said Wheeldon.
“[When I came here on trial] it just felt like I’d been here since the start.
“It was a no-brainer to come and sign for Derby.”
Having now spent a few seasons with the Rams, Wheeldon has become comfortable and settled in nicely to the academy, furthered even more after making his senior debut last summer.
The 18-year-old appeared positive about his chances of playing more regularly for the first team, and even with promotion looming, he felt like a Championship debut would not be a million miles away should Derby go up.
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