Derby County urged to sanction January transfer exit - "I don't think John Eustace trusts him" | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit thinks Corey Blackett-Taylor needs minutes away from Pride Park

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…

With the January transfer window just under two months away, there’s a chance Derby County supporters are beginning to think about what could potentially unfold during the winter window.

The Rams have won five Championship games on the bounce to propel themselves up the table, and it coincidentally follows the return of Norwegian defender Sondre Langås, coupled with manager John Eustace’s switch to a three-at-the-back formation.

However, given this relatively new change in system, there is belief that one player finds himself facing an uncertain future at Pride Park and should be sent out on loan in the near future - that man is Corey Blackett-Taylor.

Derby County urged to send Corey Blackett-Taylor out on loan in January

Soccer Football - FA Cup Fourth Round - Tranmere Rovers v Manchester United - Prenton Park, Birkenhead, Britain - January 26, 2020 Manchester United's Victor Lindelof in action with Tranmere Rovers' Corey Blackett-Taylor REUTERS/Scott Heppell

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, believes former Charlton winger Blackett-Taylor should depart on loan in the coming months to secure regular first-team football.

Woodward explained his reasoning clearly, highlighting how the current tactical setup has left the winger warming the bench, and that he needs game-time to somewhat restart his career.

"I think if we stick with this 3-4-3 formation, which has worked really well since Langås came back, I think the player that's probably at most risk of having to go out on loan to get game time is probably Corey Blackett-Taylor," Shaun told FLW.

"I don't see where he fits into that system at the moment, I don't think John Eustace trusts him or knows where to play him in that."

After scoring five times and getting two assists in pre-season, the 28-year-old was injured for six weeks in August, before picking up another "slight injury" in October. This was very worrying at the time, seeing as his first full season with the club turned out to be hampered by problems of that nature.

In his last four involvements with the matchday squad, Blackett-Taylor has been an unused substitute, including the most recent three games in November.

Looking at Derby's squad depth in attacking areas, the dilemma becomes immediately apparent in Woodward’s eyes, with no real room for Blackett-Taylor to slot in and get any minutes in the immediate future.

"So you've got in the four, I don't think he can play out wide, you've got Ward and Elder doing an amazing job, and then you've got Beck and Johnston to come in and compete with them two when they're fit," Shaun added.

"In the front three, you've got Morris as your main target man with Salvesen as backup, and then either side of him you've got Agyemang and Brereton Diaz at the moment - with Brewster and Weimann as backup for them."

Corey Blackett-Taylor might be running out of time at Derby County

Even with the preferred substitute options, Blackett-Taylor faces an uphill battle.

"You've even got (Kayden) Jackson who can come on and do a bit in the last ten or fifteen minutes to see out a game. So, I just don't see where Corey Blackett-Taylor fits in," Woodward further stated.

"For me, he would be the one that needs to go out and get game time, especially with his injury record. There's no point in him sitting on the bench and then potentially coming on for ten minutes and getting injured again."

Blackett-Taylor's 20 goals and 13 assists across three seasons for Charlton Athletic in League One before his move to Derby shows why he was sought after - but even when the Rams were in the third tier under Paul Warne, Derby fans didn't see a great deal from the winger.

"I could see him leaving," Woodward concluded, suggesting that a January departure appears inevitable given the current circumstances.

With Derby now outside the playoff places by two points, and Blackett-Taylor not given the chance to contribute to any of it - even when fit - a loan exit is probably the best option for all parties if everyone else stays fit. The club will get to move on a fringe player whilst the winger receives the game time his career desperately needs.