"It’s the truth" - "Brutal" claim made on Derby County's Kayden Jackson | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit has made his feelings clear on Kayden Jackson and Corey Blackett-Taylor

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…

The debate over Kayden Jackson's Derby County career has seemingly intensified even more after the Rams' disappointing opening day 3-1 defeat to Stoke City.

In his debut Championship campaign during 24/25, the 31-year-old managed just four goals and two assists across 49 appearances in all competitions.

To literally add insult to injury, Jackson is now the winger at the club, after Corey Blackett-Taylor suffered a hamstring injury against the Potters that will leave him out of action for at least six weeks.

Kayden Jackson labelled an "appalling signing"

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, has made his feelings clear regarding Jackson in a Rams shirt, but says the club are in no position to offload him due to Blackett-Taylor's injury.

"I would 100% have said get rid of Kayden Jackson. He’s done nothing for Derby if we’re totally honest" Woodward told FLW.

The Fan Pundit's frustration revolves around Jackson's lack of end product despite his obviously good fitness levels. "He rarely scores or assists, one thing you can say is yep, he’s always fit, he always plays, but he doesn’t offer us hardly anything, and we really could do with someone much, much better. Especially in them wider areas where we really are lacking," Woodward added.

In 46 league games last season, the former Ipswich Town fan favourite created a mere 19 chances - an average of 0.67 per 90 minutes.

"But, saying that, now Corey Blackett-Taylor’s out for six weeks, he’s pretty much our only winger, and that’s really worrying because we really lack width and someone that can beat a man," he continued.

Blackett-Taylor's injury means Jackson's nailed on to start

27-year-old Blackett-Taylor provided the assist for Carlton Morris' goal against Stoke, but his injury leaves Derby desperately short of wide options.

Head coach John Eustace's admission about his condition has raised concerns about the Rams' non-existent squad depth in wide areas. "Corey has got a tight hamstring", later going on to say the player had "done his first pre-season in six years."

Woodward can't see Jackson improving any time soon, "Kayden Jackson has bags of pace but he just doesn’t look like he knows what to do with the ball when he’s got it, he’s not clever enough off the ball either to make those runs in behind," Woodward claimed.

"So really we’re playing with ten men when he’s playing if I’m totally honest, that sounds brutal but it’s the truth," he added.

John Eustace urged to sign some wingers

Eustace has mentioned Derby's need for players in wide areas, revealing the club are "working very hard" behind the scenes to secure new signings, but that they can't "bring in players just for the sake of it."

Woodward's solution involves addressing the shortage of wingers before making any immediate decisions about Jackson. "He offers us barely anything, so I would still want us to get rid of him, but at the moment, without Corey Blackett-Taylor, we really don’t have much in those wide areas.

"So I think I’d keep but look to bring in a couple of new wingers ASAP because that is an area where we are really, really lacking, and it showed on Saturday.

"We really need to bring in wingers and get rid of Jackson when replacements are in - and Corey Blackett-Taylor, as good as he can be on his day, another one totally injury prone and i’d get rid as well," Woodward concluded.

On the face of it, these words do seem very harsh, but reflect growing frustration among supporters about the club's reliance on players with questionable fitness records. Blackett-Taylor has managed just 26 appearances since joining the club.

The reality facing Eustace is that there is literally no Championship standard winger in his Derby squad that is fit enough to play a game. Woodward - and probably every single Rams