Derby County may have Norwich City transfer regret - Canaries star slipped through their fingers | OneFootball

Jovon Makama spent time in the youth system of Derby County before being released at the age of 16

Jovon Makama was released by Derby County at the age of 16 before subsequently joining Lincoln City on a free transfer, and is now shining with Norwich City in the Championship following his switch to the Canaries this summer.

It has been a season full of mixed emotions at Derby County.

Having won just one of their opening ten league fixtures, pressure was slowly beginning to mount on head coach John Eustace, especially after heavy investment was made into the squad during the summer, with the additions of the likes of Patrick Agyemang and Max Johnston in particular costing seven-figure sums.

However, the Rams followed that poor run of form up with six wins in their next seven, seeing them shoot up the EFL Championship table as a result, only for their form to drop off again more recently, currently without a win in their last three.

Derby harness real ambitions of a top-six finish this season, but the Rams would be even better off had they kept some of their young talent in recent years.

Jovon Makama spent time in the youth system at Derby County before being released

Norwich City forward Jovon Makama has been excellent for the Canaries this season following his £1.2 million move from Lincoln City in the summer, making the step-up to the second tier seamlessly.

The Englishman spent a large portion of his youth career in the academy of Derby, but was released at the age of 16 and would go on to sign his first professional contract with Lincoln City in 2021.

Makama spent time out on loan with Gainsborough Trinity and Brackley Town before breaking into the Imps' first-team side in the 2023/24 season, but it would be the 2024/25 campaign where he began to appear on the radars of teams in divisions above, scoring seven and assisting six in 38 League One appearances.

This earned him a move to Norfolk this summer, where he has so far scored six and grabbed one assist in 18 games, most recently deputising up front in the absence of Josh Sargent, netting a brace in an important 2-1 home win over Southampton.

Makama looks to follow the paths of the likes of Morgan Whittaker, Liam Delap, Festy Ebosele, Jayden Bogle, Jason Knight, and Max Bird to come through the Rams' academy before truly realising their potential elsewhere, much to the dismay of Derby fans.

Jovon Makama may prove to be an important player at Norwich City this season - Derby County could regret it

With the amount of injuries that the Canaries have already sustained this season, Belgian boss Philippe Clement simply cannot afford someone like Makama to pick up a knock anytime soon.

The former Monaco and Rangers boss replaced the outgoing Liam Manning in the dugout at Carrow Road, and has seen a recent upturn in performances and results since his arrival, with Makama in particular impressing.

The forward has scored three and grabbed one assist in five games under Clement so far, and looks to assert himself as a mainstay in the side under the Belgian.

Norwich still sit in a precarious position in the league table, 23rd place and three points off Portsmouth in 21st, though with the recent upturn under Clement, it's likely that the Canaries will fly out of that position sooner rather than later.

A chance of a top six finish this campaign now looks slim to none, with survival being the main goal for the campaign in Norfolk after a dismal start under Manning.

Makama will likely prove crucial in those efforts of climbing away from the relegation zone, and Derby will be watching on, likely frustrated that they let yet another talent slip through the cracks.