Timi Max Elsnik says he is thriving on the big learning curves that have come his so far during pre-season as the midfielder continues to build himself up for the 2016/17 season.

The 18-year-old Slovenian has enjoyed a strong start to his personal pre-season campaign after he was called up to spend a week with the first team squad during their recent week-long training camp in the Algarve.

A senior appearance against Portuguese giants Benfica followed soon after, but far from getting overawed by the experience, Elsnik only has eyes for further work and improvement.

He told dcfc.co.uk“It was a great trip to Portugal. I got to train with the first-team a lot and see up close how the new manager wants to work.





“I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope there’s more to come for me in the future. I got 45 minutes against Benfica, one of the European greats, which was fantastic for my first-team debut. It was great to be around the players; it was another learning curve for me to take into the Under 23s.





“It the biggest game for me in my career so far. Pre-season has been great for me personally and for everyone else as well. It’s not over yet and we have a couple of weeks to keep working hard and get ready for what’s to come.”

Last night saw Elsnik, a first year professional, wore the Captain’s armband for the first time during the Under 23s’ 1-1 draw with Mickleover Sport.

He was one of five players to play the full 90 minutes against the non-league outfit in what was the first friendly fixture back on home soil for Darren Wassall’s outfit.

Assessing the game after the full time whistle, says there are many positives that he and the squad can take from what he described as a ‘great physical challenge’.

He added: “It was good to get 90 minutes after coming back from Portugal and you have to take the positives out of it.





“It’s important to take something from the negatives too and learn from them.





“It’s obviously disappointing not to win. We had a few chances in the first half to score earlier than we did. It would have calmed it down and allowed us to take care of the possession.





“It was a great physical challenge especially for those coming up from the Under 18s.





“It was the first time we played together for a while as a whole group. Maybe we were a bit rusty but this isn’t an excuse because we have been training together. We’re working on the chemistry out there together; I am sure it will come.





“We will watch the game back, see where we can go better and learn from it moving on to the future.”

Derby’s Under 23s still have three more fixtures before they get their first ever Premier League 2 Division 1 season underway.

As well as featuring in the top flight of Under 23 football, the Rams will also take part in the Premier League International Cup – a competition that will see Wassall’s men pit their wits against the best European academies.

Elsnik says it is an exciting time to be part of the Derby set-up and insists that the club have nothing to fear ahead of a big 2016/17 season.

“It’s an exciting time because we have the fixtures out now and also the news that we are playing in the international Cup," he said. "It will be great experience to be involved against teams that are the same age from around Europe.





“We are going to be playing big teams and in big stadiums too, after being promoted, which is great.





“We’re probably going to have more games as well compared to last year which is a challenge in itself. It’s all a big challenge, that’s how I look at it, we have to go for it and realise there’s no reason be scared about it. We just have to go for it and be positive.”





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