Derby County reportedly consider Chris Martin offers; Gary Rowett’s plans do not bode well

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The loaned-out Derby County frontman faces an uncertain future under the new boss.

Derby County sacking Steve McClaren for the second time in 22 months was of course the result of an alarming decline in performances and his inability to arrest yet another slide.

However, with the Rams failing to find the net in 10 of his games in charge between October and March, it is clear that Nigel Pearson’s decision to farm Chris Martin out on loan to Fulham did not help McClaren’s cause, and The Chronicle claims that Derby could let him go permanently in the summer.

Derby’s top scorer in each of the last three seasons, Martin was a natural goal-scorer but perhaps lacked the effervescent work rate required in Pearson’s system. At least that was the general consensus among supporters who had grown tired of the Scotland international ambling around the iPro pitch.

And this does not bode well for Martin’s prospects under new boss Gary Rowett. The 28-year-old thrived in McClaren’s tried and tested 4-3-3 in his first spell at Derby and, coincidentally, Fulham play a similarly expansive style and system under Slavisa Jokanovic.

It is no wonder he thrived at Craven Cottage until attempting to engineer a return to the East Midlands in January; a factor which may make them think twice about taking up their option to turn his loan deal permanent in the summer for £9 million, as reported by the BBC.

However, as reported by the Derby Telegraph, Rowett has hinted at using a 4-4-2 formation – a system Pearson obviously felt was ill-suited to Martin’s strengths.

Furthermore, when Rowett has used a lone striker system, he has often relied on a channel-running, work-horse front man. Think Clayton Donaldson at Birmingham City. Martin, meanwhile, does not offer the same lung-busting outlet.

Therefore, it is perhaps no surprise that The Chronicle claims Derby could be willing to consider offers of £3 million for Martin in the summer. He may be a proven Championship goal-scorer but, under Rowett, the odds are stacked against him.