Liam Rosenior struck Derby County transfer gold involving Sheffield United - But it was all Paul Warne’s gain | OneFootball

David McGoldrick joined Derby County in the summer of 2022 following his release from Sheffield United and proved to be an immense signing.

David McGoldrick signed for Derby County in July 2022 as a 34-year-old after he was released by Sheffield United in what proved to be an inspired piece of business by the Rams.

In the 2021/22 season, Derby suffered relegation from the Championship under the leadership of Wayne Rooney and assistant manager Liam Rosenior.

The Rams picked up two separate point deductions throughout the season, the first one being 12 points for entering administration and the second being nine points for breaching EFL accounting rules.

Derby finished the season in 23rd place amid their 21 point total deduction, but would have finished comfortably outside the relegation places otherwise.

Upon their relegation, Derby made the triple signing of Conor Hourihane, James Chester and McGoldrick, all on free transfers, whilst Rosenior was still at the helm as interim manager, before former Rotherham United boss Paul Warne would take over the reins in September.

Derby's primary objective was to earn promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking, and McGoldrick was tasked with being the main man for the Rams.

David McGoldrick was signed by Liam Rosenior, but it was Paul Warne who reaped the rewards at Derby County

McGoldrick's start to life at Pride Park began relatively slowly, scoring just once in his first nine outings for the club and primarily being introduced as a substitute.

However, as the season progressed, the veteran forward proved exactly why he had been a regular under Chris Wilder in the Premier League in season's prior, scoring hat tricks against Bristol Rovers and Forest Green Rovers and cementing himself as an ever-present in Warne's side.

In just 11 games, the 14-time-capped Irish international contributed 13 goals as Derby went through a spell of good form, and despite McGoldrick's best efforts in the latter stages of the season, scoring in six consecutive matches, Derby missed out on a play-off spot and would finish seventh in his only season at the club.

The former Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Southampton man finished his only season at the club with 22 goals and five assists in 39 League One matches, although only 29 of those were starts.

McGoldrick also set up six goals in all competitions, showing the versatility to his all-round game as so much more than just a goalscorer.

If Warne had started McGoldrick just a few more times, then they almost certainly would have finished in the play-off places.

The Irishman left the club at the end of the season to join boyhood club Notts County in League Two, and has since linked back up with former teammate and current Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane at Oakwell, where he will be hoping to replicate his form the last time he played in the third tier.

David McGoldrick is a true veteran of the EFL

Having made 78 appearances in League Two, 102 League One appearances to date and 337 in the Championship, with over 200 goal contributions across all three, McGoldrick is a true legend of the EFL.

Now back in League One working under former teammate Hourihane at Barnsley, the 37-year-old will be hopeful of adding another promotion to his CV at the end of this season, by that time he will be 38.

McGoldrick enjoyed the most prolific season of his career with Derby, and although the Rams ultimately missed out on promotion this time around with the Irishman in the squad, they would be promoted back to the Championship the following season, where they currently remain.

Showing no signs of slowing down, McGoldrick doesn't appear to be ready to call time on his playing days just yet, having already won over Barnsley supporters while establishing himself as a regular fixture in the squad.