John Eustace told to fix 'bizarre' Derby County situation as Mohammed Fuseini claim dropped | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit has given his verdict on whether Mohammed Fuseini should be given a start after his last-gasp goal against Burnley.

It is fair to say it has been an underwhelming start to the season for Derby County in the Championship.

Derby missed out on the play-off places on the final day of last season, but despite being expected to challenge for promotion once again this campaign, they currently find themselves at the wrong end of the table.

Mohammed Fuseini eases Derby County pressure on John Eustace with late Burnley heroics

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After a run of three consecutive defeats that left his side in the relegation zone, pressure was building on Derby head coach John Eustace prior to Saturday's trip to Burnley.

With Clarets boss Nicky Hayen also under scrutiny after a winless start to the season, it felt like something of a must-win game for both managers, and the hosts looked to be heading for a much-needed three points when Zeki Amdouni gave them the lead in the 34th minute.

However, the Rams equalised in the third minute of stoppage time, with substitute Mohammed Fuseini's delightful strike salvaging a point and providing Eustace with some respite heading into the extended international break, even if it was not enough to escape the bottom three.

The goal was Fuseini's first since he joined the club on a season-long loan from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day in a deal that also includes an option to buy him permanently next summer, but some Derby supporters were surprised to see the 24-year-old on the bench at Turf Moor after he had started the previous two games.

John Eustace told to make Mohammed Fuseini selection call against Wrexham

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Derby are not back in action until 10th October when they welcome Wrexham to Pride Park, but after the poor start to the season, Eustace has plenty of food for thought over the next three weeks.

When asked if Fuseini should be handed a start after the international break, FLW's Derby County fan pundit Shaun Woodward insisted that the forward must come back into the team, and he questioned why Eustace decided to drop him against Burnley.

"100%, Fuseini should be starting after international break," Shaun told FLW.

"He shouldn't have not been starting in the first place.

"It's another one of Eustace's bizarre team changes for no apparent reason because he clearly looks a threat.

"Yes, he's a bit raw, he's new to this league, but, from the glimpses we've seen so far, he wants to take on his man, he's a bit unpredictable and he's got pace to burn.

"As we saw against Burnley, he had an end product, which probably had been lacking a little bit in his first couple of games, but you're going to get that with a lot of players like him.

"He's a bit like Corey Blackett-Taylor as well, they're unpredictable at times, but they can be match-winners and produce something out of nothing, which we're really lacking at the moment.

"We're very safe and methodical, we'd almost rather set up to not lose than to try and win the game, which I think was summed up against Burnley.

"Even though Burnley are bottom of the league and struggling to score goals and create chances, we still went there not wanting to get beat.

"When we had to go and get a goal, we brought on Blackett-Taylor, Fuseini and Fraulo and looked a completely different team.

"It's a shame we can't seem to start games like that and be on the front foot.

"For some reason, Eustace is going in quite cautious at the moment, and I think that's costing us, but Fuseini 100% should be starting."

John Eustace must make big Derby County change to save Pride Park future

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Given the pressure he was under heading into the game, it is understandable that Eustace was keen to avoid another damaging defeat against Burnley on Saturday, but he must take the handbrake off in order to get Derby climbing the table.

The Rams are the joint-lowest scorers in the Championship, having netted just seven times in their first eight games, but they have also conceded 14 goals, which suggests Eustace has not found the right balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat so far this season.

Fuseini may need time to adapt to the second tier, but the Ghana international is an exciting talent, underlined by the fact that he was also chased by Birmingham City this summer, and his goal against Burnley should be enough to earn him more regular starts after the international break.