Aston Villa’s summer signing has been a massive disappointment so far – but his previous record speaks for itself.
If Derby County are to make the small but significant step from play-off hopefuls to genuine, bonafide promotion challengers, it’s clear that a proven, reliable, regular goalscorer is a must in the final few weeks of the winter window.
The latest SkyBet odds, linking The Rams with a dramatic move for Ross McCormack, proves as much.
David Nugent, spearheading two promotions in his last three seasons, should go some way to adding an extra edge to a frontline who have barely troubled the net this season but the 31-year-old is unlikely to hit double figures between now and May.
This all makes links with Aston Villa’s misfiring marquee signing McCormack all the more intriguing. SkyBet rate Derby as the second favourites to secure his signature before the beginning of February but, having only moved to Villa Park six months ago for £12 million, as reported by the BBC, he is unlikely to be available on the cheap.
Yet, on paper, he could be exactly the man for a side with the second lowest goal tally in the entire division. He has scored 17 times or over in four of the last five seasons, including 38 in 89 games in two seasons at Fulham, and, as recent history shows, he tends to embark on a rather productive purple patch in the second half of a campaign.
On the flipside, however, his reputation has been battered by a horrible half-season at Villa Park. In 20 games, he’s hit the net just three times. As Derby discovered via the club record signing of former Watford striker Matej Vydra, bringing in a forward based on his reputation rather than recent form can prove a rather expensive mistake.
Steve McClaren is desperate for a striker. But will he risk everything on Ross McCormack?
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