After losing top scorer James Collins through injury, Derby County have been boosted by the news that one of their important players will be available to play against Barnsley.
Derby were hit with the devastating blow that James Collins will be sidelined till April at the earliest after undergoing surgery on his knee.
Paul Warne acted fast to replace his top scorer by bringing experienced EFL striker Dwight Gayle to Pride Park on a free transfer.
Gayle, who once played a major role in helping Newcastle United win promotion to the Premier League, will be aiming to help Derby fulfil their own promotion ambitions.
The Rams are second in the table, six points behind leaders Portsmouth with a game in hand and six ahead of Barnsley, who they play this weekend.
Warne has challenged his team to continue their fine run of form as the business end of the season approaches, and he’s been boosted by the news that Corey Blackett-Taylor will be available for selection.
Corey Blackett-Taylor is available v Barnsley
As reported by the Derby Telegraph, Blackett-Taylor is ‘in contention’ for a place in the squad this weekend after missing the 1-0 win over Stevenage with a tight hamstring.
The 26-year-old arrived from Charlton Athletic in January but he hasn’t hit the ground running as anticipated.
For some players, it can often take a while to acclimatize to new surroundings and that has been the case with Blackett-Taylor, who is yet to show the form that saw him register eight goals and six assists for Charlton this term.
After Warne claimed the winger was frustrated with how he’s started his Derby career, he has a chance to put that right against Barnsley on Saturday as they aim to pull nine points clear of the Tykes.
Blackett-Taylor can make the difference v Barnsley
On his day, Blackett-Taylor is a “real threat” and is one of the best wingers in League One, so adding him alongside Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was a mouth-watering prospect for Derby supporters.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t shown those performance levels since switching to Pride Park, but a game against a promotion rival would be the best way to endear himself to his new club.
Earlier on in the season, Blackett-Taylor scored against Saturday’s opponents for Charlton as he burst in behind the defence and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
The winger, who has created six big chances and averaged 1.5 key passes per game, can unlock Barnsley’s defence once more and cement Derby’s place in the automatic promotion places.