Derby County have hit the jackpot with ex-Premier League star - He's outperforming Josh Sargent in one aspect | OneFootball

Carlton Morris has scored in each of his opening four league games so far

Derby County's first summer signing of Carlton Morris from Luton Town is proving to be an inspired piece of business, with the former Norwich City man outperforming current Canary - and leading Championship scorer - Josh Sargent in one aspect.

Although the fee to bring the 29-year-old to Pride Park wasn't disclosed, it was expected to be fairly minimal given the Hatters' were relegated for the second year running at the end of 24/25.

Morris scored 11 goals in 38 Premier League appearances two years ago, and was manager John Eustace's first signing of the summer window.

Over the course of the window, 12 other new players joined him in signing for the East Midlands outfit, with Derby expected to kick on further under Eustace after adding the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Rhian Brewster, Bobby Clarke, Max Johnston and ex-Blackburn Rovers skipper Lewis Travis.

In a post-match interview after the Rams secured their first point of the season against Bristol City, Morris mentioned how at home he felt at the club already, saying "The county of Derbyshire has become home so quickly, the people here have been so welcoming."

It's perhaps this atmosphere that has allowed him to hit the ground running - he's scored in all four of his league games so far this season, the first player at the club to do so since Malcolm Christie in 2000.

Carlton Morris is the clinical striker Derby County have been lacking in recent years

While Norwich City's Josh Sargent is the second-tier's leading scorer with five goals, Morris' efficiency in front of goal tells a different story.

Derby's new number nine has the best goal conversion rate in the league, according to the BBC, at 50%. In simple terms, out of eight shots taken, he's scored four of them.

Compared to Sargent, the United States international has seen six of his 15 shots hit the target - obviously scoring five of them. So his conversion rate is 33%.

By no means does this imply Morris is the better out of the two, but shows just how well the Englishman has started under Eustace at Derby. Rams fans would also like to think once players around him are back fit, he should be expecting more service than what he's had.

Early "ambition" comments backed up by Carlton Morris at Derby County

After the 86th-minute equaliser at home to Bristol City, Morris went and bagged the leveller against Norwich City's rivals Ipswich Town - a penalty at Portman Road.

This ability for Morris to deliver under pressure most likely stems from his comments upon signing for the club in July, where he mentioned to BBC Radio Derby, "I'm 29 now, and it is probably the most ambitious I have been in my career."

During Luton's promotion season in 22/23, the striker was directly involved in 27 Championship goals, scoring 20 and providing seven assists across 47 appearances.

Hatters' manager Matt Bloomfield reflected on Morris' departure respectfully, noting "Carlton has been a big player for our football club for a long time now, and in the relatively short spell that we have worked with him, he has led by example and given everything for the cause."

Whilst two other Derby strikers in Patrick Agyemang and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen get up to speed this international break, Bloomfield's words about Morris leading by example has certainly rung true in Derbyshire.

Of course, it will be hard for Morris to maintain his early-season conversion rate throughout 25/26, but as he's pretty much been feeding off scraps so far on his own, Derby fans couldn't have asked for a better start from him.