"Not his game" - Derby County issued Dion Sanderson warning after Birmingham City agreement | OneFootball

FLW's Birmingham fan pundit has given his verdict on Dion Sanderson's move to Derby County

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Dion Sanderson has completed a loan move from Birmingham City to Derby County.

The defender has been reunited with his former manager at St. Andrew’s, John Eustace, having also worked with him at Blackburn Rovers.

The 25-year-old has reinforced the Rams’ defensive options going into the new campaign, which will be the manager’s first full season in charge.

Sanderson made 12 appearances in the Championship last year for Rovers, after he joined on loan in the January transfer window.

Dion Sanderson’s last chance at Championship success

When asked if this could be a good move for all parties, FLW’s Birmingham fan pundit Jason Moore claimed that Eustace is the only manager left in the Championship who might be able to get something out of the player at this level.

He questioned the centre-back’s suitability to any side in the division that wants ball-playing defenders, but claimed he may be a good fit for Derby.

“I think he can do a job at a Championship level, it just depends who he’s playing for and what style of play,” Moore told Football League World.

“He doesn’t suit us cause we like to play football, and in the nicest way he can’t pass a ball.

“He can defend and do a job, but if you’re at a club where they want to play football and pass it around, it’s just not his game.

“He started for us last season, and you could just quickly tell that he got figured out.

“I think if he’s in a lower block and he’s just got to head and kick things out, I think that’s going to be perfectly fine.

“To be fair, John Eustace-type football from what I remember at Blues, it was counter-attacking football, so it will probably suit him and John Eustace absolutely loves him.

“To be fair, I don’t think there’s going to be another Championship manager to take a punt on him with the little amount of football he played last season, but John Eustace absolutely loves him, he made him captain of Blues.

“It makes sense, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up at Derby full-time.

“If this one doesn’t work out, then I think he’s going to have to drop down to League One and reset his career, but he can still do a job at a Championship club, just not a Championship club that wants to play football and a Championship club at the top end of the league.

“I don’t ever think that’s going to be one for Dion, I think lower-half Championship is about his ceiling.”

Derby will face Stoke City in their opening league fixture of the season on Saturday, while Birmingham host Ipswich Town on Friday night.

Sanderson and Eustace work well together

Sanderson’s best performances for Birmingham came when he was working for Eustace, with the player struggling under the likes of Chris Davies and Tony Mowbray.

A move back to Derby is not at all surprising, and he will surely have a role to play for the team this season as they look to improve on their 19th place finish in the table.

It adds some extra defensive cover for the Rams, which was needed, and a loan deal means it’s a relatively low risk move.

This is a deal that could work out for all parties if Sanderson can perform well, as it will show that he can compete at this level under the right coach.