Derby County were incredibly active in the summer transfer window and one signing is proving invaluable to Paul Warne despite recent criticism.
Derby have recorded three victories from seven Championship games, with their most recent defeat coming against Norwich City in controversial circumstances.
The Rams were denied a point or perhaps all three as the ball went out of play in the build-up to Carlos Sainz’s first goal, with a similar scenario happening for his hat-trick clincher.
Paul Warne was right to feel aggrieved about the decisions that went against his side but it was still a spirited performance from the hosts to score twice.
Craig Forsyth and Corey Blackett-Taylor both netted their first goals of the season however, there is one new signing who is still waiting for the back of the net to ripple.
Richie Barker thinks Jerry Yates is invaluable to Derby County
Derby captured striker Jerry Yates on loan from Swansea City in the summer as they bolstered their forward line with Championship experience.
Yates missed the first two games of the season through suspension but the 27-year-old has now started the previous five and failed to score.
Some Derby fans have become impatient with his form in front of goal while others have recognised what he brings to the side off the ball, and that is a sentiment echoed by assistant manager Richie Barker.
Barker thinks that, while he hasn’t got the goals to show for his immense work out of possession, Yates has played a ‘big part’ in Derby’s wins over Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Cardiff City.
Dubbing Yates an ‘unselfish striker’, Barker told the Rams’ official website: “Jerry’s greater than the sum of his parts; in the game against Bristol City a couple of weeks ago he was excellent. Probably a couple of elements let him down at the weekend against Norwich, but he plays a big part in what we do.
“He’s a very, very unselfish striker who we’ve known him a long time. If you told him now that we would have a successful season and he wouldn’t score a goal, he would take that because that’s the kind of person he is and that’s the kind of team ethic we want.
“His first goal will be a very popular one when it comes because he’s a popular member of the team and somebody the lads recognise. It’s not about him, it’s not about his goal records. I always think it’s great when we have different goalscorers because you become harder to play against.”
Derby County can score goals from anywhere
Strikers are ultimately judged on how many goals they score but the performances of Yates in his first five games for Derby suggest this narrative needs to change.
The former Blackpool marksman has run himself into the ground for the cause, combining his work ethic and running power to stretch defences while opening up space for his teammates.
Derby haven’t felt deprived without Yates finding the net, as they’re capable of scoring goals from anywhere with 10 in seven matches coming from eight different scorers.
Three defenders, including Curtis Nelson, Forsyth and Kane Wilson, have all found the net this term while the only forward to score in the league is Kayden Jackson, with the 30-year-old netting twice.
If Warne’s men can translate their goalscoring threat at home into their away games, the Rams will be feared by most opposition defences.