The Derby County winger has scored just the one goal all season and never looked like adding to that meagre tally against Aston Villa.
The dissatisfaction has been clear for some time. Derby County fans may appreciate Johnny Russell’s commendable work rate and ‘good egg’ persona but such attributes become rather immaterial when you consider that, in 24 league appearances this season, he has produced one goal and no assists.
The winger was hotly tipped to depart for Birmingham City in January, as reported by the Derby Telegraph, after his appearances in Steve McClaren’s starting XI became increasingly erratic.
In the weeks that followed, however, Russell has wormed his way back into the first-team picture, albeit possibly due to the inconsistency of Abdoul Camara and Ikechi Anya rather than any discernible improvements in his own game.
In fact, Russell’s energy and clear passion for the club, not to mention his occasional excellence during McClaren’s first spell at the iPro, appears to keep handing him a stay of execution rather than a deserved place on the left of the Derby attack.
His end product, epitomised by those truly dismal stats, remains alarmingly poor for a regular starter in one of the side’s tipped to fight for promotion at the start of the season.
And, in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, Russell’s performance only loaded another straw onto the camel’s creaking back with fans venting their frustration at his wastefulness in the final third.
He survived the cull in January but, when the summer comes around, he may not be so fortunate.
Derby manager Steve McClaren looks dejected
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
