According to the Birmingham Mail, reported Derby County striker targets Charlie Austin and Keinan Davis both found the net during a friendly clash in the west Midlands.
Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training complex.
The game was played as the two clubs looked to bolster the fitness levels of players returning from injury or those yet to feature regularly in the Premier League.
Derby, meanwhile, can have reason to look on with envy after their slow start.
According to Rob Dorsett at Sky Sports, Derby were in talks to sign West Brom’s Charlie Austin as the Rams stepped up their efforts to bring in a new striker.
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Football Insider went one further, claiming Rams captain Wayne Rooney personally called the Baggies man in an attempt to lure him to the Pride Park club.
A deal for Austin, however, failed to materialise despite a supposed path being cleared for his arrival after West Brom signed Huddersfield Town striker Karlam Grant.
Another striker Derby were reportedly in the hunt to sign was Villa’s Keinan Davis.
Football Insider claimed the Rams and Preston North End made approaches to sign the powerful centre-forward, and were hopeful of a deal after Ollie Watkins joined the Villans.
Derby, however, were again frustrated as Phillip Cocu’s side ultimately ended the transfer window striker search having only signed 34-year-old journeyman Colin Kazim-Richards.
Either Austin or Davis would have been a positive move from the Rams. Cocu’s side have lacked a focal point upfront after Chris Martin’s exit in the summer.
While it may have only been a friendly, the two goals scored by Austin and Davis surpasses the total number of Championship goals Derby have scored in open play this season.
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