Kieron Freeman

Kieron Samuel Freeman (born 21 March 1992) is a professional footballer who last played as a right-back for club Oldham Athletic.

Born in England, he represented the Wales national team.

Starting his career at Nottingham Forest, he then moved to local rivals Derby County for an undisclosed fee.

Having played on loan for Mansfield Town and had three separate loan spells at Notts County, he is the youngest player to have played for all three professional Nottinghamshire clubs, and is the first to play for each of the three in consecutive competitive games.

He has also spent time on loan at Portsmouth.

Freeman has represented Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

Freeman was a regular for the reserves in the 2010–11 season, and he was named as a substitute by Billy Davies in a Football League Cup first round match with Bradford City in August 2010.

In February 2011, Freeman signed a contract at Forest keeping him at the club until the summer of 2013.

In the 2011–12 pre-season, Freeman was played in midfield.

Freeman made his first professional appearance for Forest on 22 August 2011 in the second round of the League Cup during a 4–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, coming on for Lewis McGugan.

His performance resulted in praise from then-Forest manager Steve McClaren.

On 4 November 2011 Freeman joined Conference Premier club Mansfield Town on an emergency loan deal, which was later extended.

Freeman returned to Forest on 4 January, having made nine starts for the Stags.

Under Steve Cotterill, Freeman was given his first start for Forest, in an FA Cup third round tie at home to rival club Leicester City in January 2012.

He played the whole 90 minutes and helped to keep a clean sheet.

The game finished 0–0.

On 13 January 2012 Freeman joined League One side Notts County on an emergency 30-day loan.

He was given squad number 20 and made his debut in a 2–1 defeat away to AFC Bournemouth.

The loan was extended until the end of the 2011–2012 season on 13 February 2012.

After a set of impressive games Kieron was awarded the Football League's Young Player of the Month award for February.

He was also praised the current Notts County manager, Keith Curle, who stated that in the future Freeman would be good enough to play in the Premier League.

At the end of the season, Freeman returned to Forest, however he has said he'd like to rejoin the Magpies next season.

In the summer of 2012, reports linked Freeman with a return to Notts County and also moves to Derby County and Gillingham.

Derby manager Nigel Clough confirmed his interest in signing the player.

On 22 August 2012, Freeman joined East Midlands rivals Derby County for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year contract with an option of a third.

He made his first team debut in a 4–1 win to Blackpool on 3 November 2012, as an 81st minute substitute for Jeff Hendrick.

His first start came in a 3–1 win to Middlesbrough on 1 January 2013.

After left-back Gareth Roberts received a three-game ban, Freeman was chosen to play at right back for Derby's home games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers, however early into the Bolton game Freeman was stretchered off injured after 29 minutes.

Manager Nigel Clough said that Freeman sprained his ankle and had to leave Pride Park on crutches.

He was ruled out for three to four weeks.

Freeman returned to the first team match day squad after three weeks and a week later returned to starting eleven at right back to cover for the injured John Brayford.

In early April it was confirmed that Freeman had extended his contract at Derby through to the summer of 2016.

Freeman ended the season featuring 20 times for the first team, starting in 10 matches, along with these appearances Freeman was a regular for the under-21 side and at the end of the season he won the under-21 Player of the Year award.

After the sale of first choice right-back John Brayford to Cardiff City, Nigel Clough thought Freeman would be capable replacement.

A couple of days later, Derby signed Tottenham Hotspur right-back Adam Smith on a season-long loan with the intention of the two competing for a place in the starting eleven.

Freeman was selected ahead of Smith for the first five league games of the season but was withdrawn at half-time in the fifth game, a home defeat to Burnley.

The Rams were 2–0 down at the time and Freeman was at fault for both goals, particularly the second, when he headed the ball into the path of Burnley striker Sam Vokes, who scored from close range.

Clough noted that Freeman "should have done better" and Smith started the next game, a 5–1 victory at Millwall, though he was withdrawn after 61 minutes out of concerns for his safety.

Millwall were 3–0 down and playing with 10 men and Smith was struck by bottles and coins thrown by the home fans so he was replaced by Freeman.

Smith kept his place in the team for the following two matches but Freeman returned for the third, a 2–1 League Cup defeat to rivals Leicester City.