Derby County have announced their third signing of the summer transfer window, landing Jerry Yates on a season-long loan.
The striker joins from Swansea City for the campaign, bolstering the forward options available to Paul Warne and his squad.
It won’t be the first time that Yates has worked under the Derby boss, having previously played for him at Rotherham United.
Since their paths diverged, the 27-year-old has spent time at Blackpool – where he gained a reputation for bagging goals.
That earned him a switch to Swansea City, where he scored eight Championship goals last season in a difficult campaign.
With his future in Wales in doubt, a move to Pride Park could help Yates rediscover his old form under a manager who knows him well.
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Jerry Yates red card ban
While it is a move that should help Derby in their pursuit of survival in the second tier, Yates won’t be available right away.
That’s because the striker picked up a straight red card in the final match of the season with Swansea against Millwall.
The 27-year-old appeared to clash with Japhet Tanganga, with the pair both receiving their marching orders late in the game.
Should that ban be upheld, it will carry over into the new season and will result in three matches missed for Yates.
Red card suspensions in the EFL carry over across all competitions, meaning that a three-match ban would see him miss out on games against Blackburn and Middlesbrough in the league and Chesterfield in the Carabao Cup.
Derby County forward options
With the signing of Yates, once he is available to play, Derby look set for a host of different options across their frontline.
Warne has emphasised his desire for players with fresh skillsets at his disposal throughout the season, attacking the opposition in different ways during different game states.
With Derby signing Kayden Jackson and now Yates, that point is re-emphasised with additional quality too.
Add to that the current squad that features Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Tom Barkhuizen, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Conor Washington, it shows the need to continue strengthening those players who can make a difference.
If Yates can be one of those who chips in with important goals at crucial moments, the loan signing could prove to be a low-cost move with plenty of positives.