Derby County warning signs are emerging in summer signing - fans are already losing patience after Preston loss | OneFootball

Ben Brereton Diaz signed for Derby County this summer on loan from Southampton, but has had a tough start to life at Pride Park

Ben Brereton Diaz signed for Derby County this summer on loan from fellow Championship side Southampton, but his start to life with the Rams hasn't gone particularly as he would have hoped.

In a summer which saw 13 new arrivals at Derby under manager John Eustace, the Rams have had a tough start to the new season, winning just one of their opening six Championship matches, as well as being knocked out of the League Cup at the hands of Premier League outfit Burnley.

Indeed, bringing in 13 new bodies was always going to take an adjustment period. However, Eustace will be as disappointed as anyone with his side's start, with their 1-0 home loss to Preston North End in their most recent fixture raising more questions about the club's squad-building than it is answering.

Their final arrival late in the window was Chile international Brereton Diaz, who had fallen out of favour at Southampton, with the Saints happy to sanction a loan move for the 26-year-old after it became clear he wasn't going to figure in the thinking of new head coach Will Still.

Having made his debut in the Rams' only win so far this season away at West Brom, the Stoke-on-Trent born forward was substituted off after 87 minutes in their home defeat to Preston, with Derby fans taking to social media to voice their displeasure with his display.

Derby County fans take to social media to react to Ben Brereton Diaz performance

With Derby struggling to obtain a foothold in the first half against Preston, Eustace decided to introduce USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang off the bench in place of Callum Elder, which did little to benefit Brereton Diaz.

The Chilean was replaced in the 87th minute by Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, and many Rams fans had seen enough to openly question Brereton-Diaz's performance and Eustace's decision to keep him on the pitch for as long as he did.

Derby fans have been left puzzled as to how Brereton Diaz lasted as long as he did, and with Kayden Jackson left on the bench, it's not like the Rams didn't have any other option.

It's a harsh claim to have only two games into his Derby career, yet fans of the club are not holding back over their displeasure with his performance.

In a direct plea to manager Eustace, Derby fans are not only requesting to never see the 26-year-old play a full ninety minutes for the club again, but openly criticised the tactics of the former Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City boss.

Ben Brereton Diaz has been a Championship regular throughout his career

Having come through the youth ranks at Stoke City, it was with Nottingham Forest where Brereton Diaz announced himself as a Championship calibre player, scoring three times and assisting a further four in 18 games during his first professional season.

He has since played over 230 times in the second tier for Blackburn, Sheffield United and now Derby.

It was with Blackburn where he enjoyed his best season to date, scoring 22 times and grabbing three assists in 37 matches during the 2021/22 Championship campaign, and earning a call-up to the Chilean national squad at the beginning of that season. That, however, is as good as its ever been for Brereton Diaz, whose career has endured something of a downturn ever since.

A brief stint in La Liga with Villarreal, where he failed to contribute to a goal, followed by a season in the Premier League with Sheffield United and Southampton have led him to Derby, where he will no doubt be hoping to re-find the form he showed just four years ago.