Derby County demand set for Lars-Jørgen Salvesen - he may have to "bide his time" under John Eustace | OneFootball

FLW’s Rams fan pundit is happy to see competition for the front line

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…

Derby County’s return to Championship action after the international break comes with some long-awaited reinforcements.

The Rams endured a difficult opening stretch to the 2025/26 campaign, going winless in their first four matches and struggling to find fluency in attack.

Carlton Morris has led the line superbly since his summer switch from Luton Town, already netting four goals, but the supporting cast has been limited.

Big-money arrival Patrick Agyemang was sidelined in pre-season with a hernia issue with only a single cameo so far, while

Lars-Jørgen Salvesen has not featured since March after a knee injury brought an abrupt end to his debut campaign at Pride Park.

That situation is finally easing, with Salvesen eyeing a September return. For the Norwegian, who scored once in eight appearances before his setback, the challenge now is not only to return to fitness but also to prove he can establish himself in a frontline already boasting Morris, Rhian Brewster and Ben Brereton Diaz.

With competition at its highest in years, the Norwegian forward may have to fight harder than ever to secure opportunities.

Carlton Morris form could leave Lars-Jørgen Salvesen in Derby County cold

Football League World asked resident Rams expert Shaun Woodward if he thought the Norwegian forward would struggle to make an impact this season, considering the competition for his position.

“I don't think he'll struggle for minutes. I think like any good squad with competition he's going to have to bide his time. He's going to have to take his opportunity when he gets it,” Woodward told FLW.

“I think he knows this season, he's not maybe at the top of the pecking order because of Carlton Morris's unbelievable start to the season.

“But like any player, he's going to have to fight for his place and give the manager food for thought as why he should be in the team, which when he comes off the bench, he's going to have to go and show why he should be there - and I think it's great, healthy competition now.

“I think that the 4-2-3-1 we play, obviously at the moment, Morris is your main striker. You've got Brewster who can play on the right of the three, and you've got Diaz who can play on the left of the three, so I don't see them two as direct competition for him. I think it's one of Salvesen, Agyemang and Morris.

“So at the moment, Morris has got the shirt. He deserves it. But then when the others get the chance, they've got to show why they should be in the team.

"It's great competition. It's what we've been crying out for for the last two years. We finally got it, so he's going to have to show what he's made of - and it's exciting times.”

John Eustace's tactical options open up with Lars-Jorgen Salvesen back in contention

The task ahead is clear - Morris has cemented himself as the focal point of Derby’s attack, but the Championship is a long, physically demanding season where depth and adaptability are often decisive.

Salvesen, with his aerial ability and strength, brings qualities that differ from the more mobile, versatile options of Brewster and Brereton Diaz.

That contrast could give Eustace tactical flexibility, whether as a direct alternative to Morris or as a late impact substitute when games demand a different approach.

Agyemang’s return complicates the picture further. At £5.8 million, his signing was a statement of intent, and he too will be pushing to establish himself quickly. That leaves Salvesen in a battle not just for minutes, but for relevance within a strike force finally rich in options.

Much will depend on how quickly he can rediscover sharpness and confidence after a long lay-off. If he adapts and produces when opportunities arise, he could yet carve out a significant role.

But if Morris continues to fire and Agyemang hits the ground running, Salvesen may find himself on the periphery of a Derby side still searching for momentum.