"I hope to play a big part": Tyreece John-Jules reflects on loan extension
Tyreece John-Jules is on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season
Derby County's Tyreece John-Jules' loan deal has been extended to keep him at Pride Park until the end of the season.
The Arsenal loanee has had injury issues keeping him on the sidelines for much of the first half of the season, however he is at a point now where game time has been improving.
John-Jules, 22, has made 11 appearances now for the Rams in League One, scoring once.
With Derby having thin depth at the striker position, John-Jules could play a key part in the Rams' promotion charge in the second half of the season.
The Arsenal striker spoke to Rams TV this week describing how he feels at home at Pride Park.
He said: "I'm happy. I've really settled in here and I feel I have settled in well with the lads and the staff. When I was injured earlier in the season, everyone looked after to me so it felt like the right decision to stay.
"I just want to push on now for the back end of the season. The gaffer has been building me up slowly and game-by-game, so I always felt like I wanted to stay here for the season and finish what we have started."
It is unclear what John-Jules' future will look like after this season as he has had a number of loan spells over the past few years.
He had been battling to stay fit for much of the season, but the 22 year old says he feels good coming into the second part of the year. He added: "Touch wood, that's the last injury I'll have. I'm feeling good now and game-by-game I'm getting more minutes and feeling better.
"I'm not where I want to be at the moment, but the more minutes I get, it will come. I have to manage how much I do in training and how much I do in matches. If we have three games in a week, we have to see whether I can play in all of them.
"Credit to the medical team and all the staff, they've been managing my numbers and I'm staying fit, so hopefully that can continue."
He is hoping to make an impact for Derby as the season moves ahead: "From now until the end of the season is where I need to pick it up and show everyone what I can do.
"I hope to play a big part between now and the end of the season."
Derby's next game comes this evening against Reading where the Rams have the chance to go to the top of League One with a win.