Derby County are bracing themselves for a busy summer of transfer business but it’s one of their current players who will have a huge part to play in the Championship.
Derby are preparing for life back in the Championship after a two-year exile.
Although the transfer window doesn’t open till the middle of June, the Rams have been linked to several players as most clubs announce their release/retained list.
Derby have reportedly shown an interest in midfield maestro Herbie Kane, Charlton Athletic goal machine Alfie May and Sheffield Wednesday striker Josh Windass.
Paul Warne knows he’ll need to supplement his current crop of players with an abundance of Championship quality to survive while resolving the futures of his 12 first-team stars who are out of contract.
The most important piece of management Warne could do this summer, though, isn’t necessarily in the transfer market as one player must show his worth in Derbyshire.
Corey Blackett-Taylor’s time at Derby County
Ask many Derby fans their response when they captured Corey Blackett-Taylor from Charlton in January and they would have been delighted.
Fast forward four months and some may have changed their answer after watching the 26-year-old struggle in the early stages of his Rams career.
Despite scoring eight goals and six assists in 25 appearances for the Addicks, he’s only laid the one assist in Derby colours, supplying Joe Ward the ball following his dazzling run against Portsmouth.
Blackett-Taylor’s performance in that match against the title winners evinced his quality as he continuously caused Pompey’s defence huge problems with his electric pace and incredible dribbling.
Unfortunately, the Englishman hasn’t produced enough of those displays and that is down to a multitude of reasons.
The jet-heeled winger – once lauded ‘brilliant’ during his time in South London – has encountered a few injury niggles and as a result, has only started six of his 12 matches.
Why Corey Blackett-Taylor has big part to play in Championship
There is no doubt Blackett-Taylor has the talent, and although many are questioning whether he’s good enough for the Championship, a full pre-season can draw out his best form.
It’s taken the winger a while to adapt to Warne’s demands, particularly from a physical standpoint, but a full pre-season under his belt will only benefit him.
Warne also switched to a formation that accommodated two strikers as opposed to natural wide players and this saw Blackett-Taylor get left on the bench in two of the last three games.
Blackett-Taylor’s best position is cutting in from the left but given Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been in sensational form, the former Charlton man has been shifted to the right.
In pre-season however, supporters will get a taste of where Warne intends on using his January signing as there is a strong possibility he’ll play a big role in their survival bid.
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