£12k-a-week Derby County star must already be planning Pride Park escape route | OneFootball

Kayden Jackson’s struggles point towards an inevitable January decision

When Derby County announced the signing of Kayden Jackson last summer, there was a quiet optimism that the club had added an experienced, versatile forward at precisely the right moment.

The former Ipswich Town man arrived with over 190 appearances at Portman Road under his belt, a player who had experienced both promotion and consolidation at Championship level.

Yet, 14 months on, it is difficult to shake the sense that the move simply hasn’t worked. Jackson is reportedly earning £12,000 per week per estimates from Capology — placing him among Derby’s highest earners — but his output on the pitch has not matched that investment.

He was brought in as part of a wider refresh of the Rams' attacking options and the idea was clear: add depth, flexibility and goals. In reality, Jackson has not provided enough of the latter.

Causes for concern in Kayden Jackson’s debut Derby County season

Jackson’s first year at Pride Park was notable more for his availability than his effectiveness. He featured in all 46 Championship matches, starting 28 of them, yet finished with just three goals and two assists.

A run of three goals in three home games last September hinted at momentum that never truly materialised.

For a player of his experience, and one carrying a salary that reflects his senior role, those numbers represent a poor return.

Jackson’s work rate and willingness to stretch defences were never in question, but Derby needed more than honest running — they needed an attacking focal point.

At 31, there is little to suggest that Jackson has another level to unlock. This appears to be the player the Rams have, and in a squad looking to establish itself in the Championship, that poses a challenge.

A tough start to the 2025/26 Championship season for Kayden Jackson

If the hope was that this season might offer a reset, the early signs in the Championship’s opening games have been unconvincing.

Jackson has made just two starts in four appearances so far, logging 198 minutes without a goal or assist. Those starts — against Coventry and Stoke — were marred by poor accuracy and low efficacy.

His pre-season strikes against RB Salzburg and Walsall now feel like false positives rather than indicators of an upturn.

Complicating matters further is his deployment out wide following the arrival of Carlton Morris and the injury to Corey Blackett-Taylor.

Jackson is a willing runner, but the role has exposed his limitations rather than reignited his form. Once Blackett-Taylor returns — expected within weeks — Jackson’s minutes are likely to shrink further.

All of which points to a difficult but necessary conversation in January. Derby cannot afford to carry a top earner who is contributing so little in front of goal, not when the Championship demands efficiency at both ends of the pitch.

This was supposed to be a sensible, low-risk signing, but sometimes even those fail to work out. Unless something changes dramatically in the coming weeks, it feels as though both club and player would benefit from a clean break in January.