Michael Kightly has been in inspired form since returning to the second tier with Burton Albion from Burnley; why Derby County didn’t make a move is anyone’s guess.
While Derby County were busy throwing their January funds in the direction of Wigan Athletic winger Yanic Wildschut, Sky Sports reporting that The Rams had a rather hefty £4 million offer knocked back before he completed a deadline day move to Norwich City, one of the most astute deals of the season was being completed right under their nose.
Michael Kightly may be 31 these days but the injury-ravaged winger has proved that those who wasted no time writing him off were acting rather hastily.
His loan move from Burnley to Burton Albion in January might not have grabbed too many headlines but, three weeks on, a number of Championship clubs must be wondering why they didn’t take a punt on the gifted wideman.
In three Brewers games, former Wolves star Kightly has scored three Brewers goals, each one more special than the last. In fact, since his arrival, Burton have picked up six points from nine, only losing to in-form Brighton.
Derby, meanwhile, have picked up just the one point in the same period, falling to Newcastle and Cardiff. As a result, they’re now eleven points adrift of sixth, their play-off hopes all but over.
If only they could call on a player of Kightly’s experience, someone who can produce a moment of magic from a dead ball or a yard of space.
Instead, Ikechi Anya, Johnny Russell, Abdoul Camara and club record signing Matej Vydra (below) continue to toil. In fact, without the excellent Tom Ince, Derby’s play-off hopes would have died a long time ago thanks to a baffling approach to recruitment.
Kightly would have been an intelligent signing for a club in need of more creativity in the final third.
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