Jackson Irvine rejecting China could give Derby County, Swansea City hope

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Both Derby County and Swansea City are reportedly interested in a player who is keen to prove himself at the top level.

If you thought Derby County’s centre-forwards were struggling to score consistently this season, spare a thought for the midfielders.

Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson, Will Hughes and Jacob Butterfield, who have all demonstrated an ability to find the net on a semi-regular basis in previous seasons, have netted just five league goals between them in 2016/17. You can hardly blame The Rams for glancing at Burton Albion top scorer Jackson Irvine with envy then, as reported by The World Game.

The publication also claims that Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swansea City were keen on the 23-year-old whose nine goals in 32 league games makes him the Championship’s second highest scoring central midfielder behind Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri.

Wolves, too, have struggled badly for goals from deep beyond the evergreen Dave Edwards while Swansea City’s squad is packed with intelligent, technical midfielders though the likes of Tom Carroll (below), Leon Britton and Ki Sung Yeung are yet to find the net this season.

And while Irvine remains committed to Burton, the interested trio can take some heart in knowing that this is a player keen to compete at the top level. He turned down the mega-bucks of China to remain at the Pirelli after all.

“I was happy to stay here but not just happy to stay here – I want to stay here,” Irvine told the Burton Mail. “I want to prove myself in this league and keep Burton Albion in the Championship, and try to progress as much as I can.

“I’m sure a lot of fans will think I’m insane – I think a lot of people will! I made a decision based on my life situation at this time. Maybe if it had come a few years later it might be a different situation altogether.”

It would be no surprise if Irvine was to up sticks from Burton in the summer, especially if they go down, and there will be no shortage of suitors for this rarest of beasts – a reliable goalscoring midfielder.