John Eustace told what is "essential" he does at Derby County this January transfer window | OneFootball

FLW's Rams Fan Pundit wants John Eustace to sign a new centre-forward and right-back

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…

There's belief that Derby County need to make two "essential" signings before the transfer window slams shut on February 2nd, but there's also a call to be "greedy".

With head coach John Eustace only wanting to sign players this winter window who improve the squad - as per DerbyshireLive - we asked a familiar voice how many more transfers the Rams should actually make.

FLW's Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, argues that a new centre-forward and a right-back is essential, with another left-back also on his wish-list.

Derby County told to 'cover the gap' until Carlton Morris is back fit

Woodward feels as though Derby are currently "getting away with it" without the aforementioned Morris, so he wants another striker to come in until the end of the season.

The Fan Pundit told FLW: "We need another centre-forward, I think. We’re getting away with it at the moment, but without [Carlton] Morris we don’t have that focal point up front."

Even though Morris is apparently on track to return to the playing squad in February, Woodward claims the other options used as a solo striker aren't as effective.

Woodward continued by saying: "[Patrick] Agyemang prefers to be on the left of a main centre-forward, and I think that’s where he’s at his most dangerous - when he can face defenders up and go at them, I think he struggles with his back to goal.

"Eustace doesn’t really want to play [Lars-Jorgen] Salvesen, or he’s barely played him so he clearly doesn’t want to be using him through the middle.

"We’ve tried [Rhian] Brewster. Again, I don’t think he really suits that role. He’s done okay, but I think that’s an area where we could definitely look to improve and maybe bring someone in on loan just to cover the gap until Morris is back."

It's perhaps fair to say when Morris first got injured, the majority of Rams fans thought Salvesen would come into the starting XI as a like-for-like replacement, but that just hasn't happened.

Disregarding Tuesday night's game with Charlton Athletic, the Norwegian has only played 368 minutes of Championship football across 20 appearances. With only three league starts, it's clear that Eustace prefers to bring him off the bench to either see out games or try and bag a winner.

As revealed by Fabrizio Romano on X, Derby were named as a potential destination for Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana - but fresh developments could spell trouble.

According to The Daily Mail, the Premier League giants want £10m in order to offload the Ivorian - which is the price they bought him for three years ago.

Whether that move comes to fruition remains to be seen for Derby, but Woodward also thinks signing another right-back is just as important.

Derby County 'need' to sign a new right-back

Given that Eustace now seems to have switched to his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, Woodward is adamant that the right-side of defence needs to be improved.

Woodward said: "And, I think a right-back. If we’re now going to play a back four, I think Joe Ward, as brilliant as his delivery is and offensive work - defensively he’s just not a right-back.

"He [Ward] struggles massively when he’s got wingers running at him, which is not his game - he wants to be further forward and doesn’t want to be in his own box, because it’s a penalty or red card waiting to happen, which has happened on several occasions," the Fan Pundit added.

Although Ward has six goal contributions so far this season, he has, as Woodward mentioned, had some defensive mishaps. The ex-Peterborough United man brought down Watford's Nestory Irankunda in the box with seven minutes to go, and the Hornets scored from the subsequent penalty which won them the game.

Then, away at Birmingham City in December, the 30-year-old received a second yellow card before half-time. It's also worth a reminder that Ward only started the recent Preston North End game - which was Eustace's return to 4-2-3-1 - because Danny Batth had to pull out via injury.

"That’s an area where we do need to improve," Woodward continued, "because [Max] Johnston, I don’t know when he’s back but he’s been out for a long time and it could be even when he does come back it could take a while for him to get fit again."

Johnston was signed in a deal worth up to £3.5m last summer, and hasn't featured in a black and white shirt since October - but he did start all nine games he played in. So, when he is back fit, you can imagine he'd be the preferred choice.

Beyond the two "essential" positions of centre-forward and right-back, Woodward would also like to see Derby bolster their options on the opposite flank - which is perhaps more likely to happen.

Craig Forsyth is a 'worrying' back-up option to Callum Elder

"So for me, a centre-forward and a right-back are essential. If I was being greedy, I'd love a left-back as well. Elder’s doing a good job but his backup in Forsyth is worrying," Woodward concluded.

Back in December, it was reported by Football Insider that the Rams registered their interest in LASK left-back George Bello. Seeing as there have been no suggestions that Derby are looking for more right-backs, maybe a left-back is the position that is needed more at Pride Park.

Also, when you consider Owen Beck would have most likely been the main left-back option had he never got injured, that's another reason for Eustace to bring in better competition for Elder. So far this season, the Australian has already started more league games for Derby than during the whole 23/24 League One campaign.

With less than two weeks to go before the January window shuts, Woodward - along with many other Rams fans - will be hoping that Eustace can at least find the players that fit his criteria of bettering the squad.