The open training session, designed for Young Magpies to have a fun day out, always sparks conversation, with new faces often appearing. Eagle eyed Notts fans have spotted Darnell Fisher playing in the training game, with the 29 year old free agent training with the club perhaps ahead of a potential move.
Originally from Reading, Fisher moved to Scotland in 2011 at the age of 17 to join Scottish giants Celtic. A move at such a young age will have been a steep learning curve, and shows the character of the full back. He went on to make 17 league appearances for the Glasgow side, before a loan to fellow Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone provided more regular game time.
Fisher then made the move to back south of the border, joining Rotherham, where he impressed with his direct style and speed of foot. He played 34 games in his maiden season in the Championship, impressing so much that despite Rotherham’s relegation he earned a move to fellow Championship side Preston North End.
The North West side is the club that has defined Fisher’s career, making well over 100 Championship appearances during a 4 year stint. It was a period defined by highs and lows, as the speedy full back became known for his pace, defensive solidity and timing in the tackle. He also became known for less favourable reasons, as he was charged in 2020 for misconduct during a game, resulting in a 3 match ban. We’ll let you do the research on that one.
A move to Middlesbrough followed, but injuries marred his time there, resulting in just 13 league appearances across 3 seasons. That’s the major concern with the move, as Fisher has barely played of late, but when he has, it’s been at a higher level. In fact, his whole career has been at a much better standard, a sign of his class.
In the training game Fisher played to the right of a back 3, and it’s a role he could be well suited too, despite being just 5’9”. Pace has been a key issue highlighted in our backline, and Fisher has that in abundance. He’s also an excellent 1v1 defender, particularly in the tackle where his timing is superb. His grounding as a full back should also mean he possesses the requisite ability on the ball, a key attribute in Luke Williams’ system, where the onus is on the defence to build from the back.
It would certainly be an intriguing move, one many might not have expected after the arrival of Tipton from Wolves. However, with the feeling that the young defender actually prefers to play in the middle of the back 3, Fisher could be a strong option to the right of the backline, covering both centre back but also right wing back too. Whether a deal will be struck remains to be seen, but a player of his quality training with our side can only be seen as a positive.
Tom Williams