Derby County: Former Huddersfield Town man could be Craig Forsyth 2.0 | OneFootball

The Rams could do with some more cover at left-back going forward.

After a promising start to life back in the Championship, Derby County have slowly started to drop off the pace, and with just one win in eight games, the January transfer window can not come quick enough for Paul Warne.

The Rams have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, and a 2-1 defeat to fellow mid-table side Swansea City on Wednesday evening further compounded their current issues.

It was an extremely frustrating evening for the East Midlands club, who had more than enough chances to take at least a point from the match, with a poor first 20 minutes costing them greatly - leaving them too much to do to recover.

Derby are in need of strengthening in the upcoming January window and while signing a striker must be seen as a priority, there is another position that will need adding to in the near future. The Rams must follow the same blueprint that they made for themselves over a decade ago to bring in young, new cover for the coming years.

Ben Jackson could have the same impact as Craig Forsyth for Derby County if signed

The left-back position at Pride Park is one that is filled quite well at this moment in time, with Ben Osborn, Callum Elder and Craig Forsyth all more than capable of playing in the Championship in that role.

However, it must be noted that only Elder is under the age of 30, and therefore bringing in a young player that can make the position their own for a number of years should be high up on Warne's to-do list in the next two transfer windows.

Forsyth himself was brought to the East Midlands when he was relatively young, originally joining on loan before signing permanently ahead of the 2013/14 campaign for £150,000 from Watford at the age of 24.

He has gone on to have a huge impact at the club, and he has nearly 360 appearances to his name in black-and-white. Now 35, the Scottish defender is still a key part of Warne's plans, but it must be said that he will need replacing soon due to his age.

Barrow AFC's Ben Jackson could be the man to come in and replace Forsyth in the next year, with the ex-Huddersfield Town ace currently enjoying an excellent season in League Two.

The 23-year-old does have Championship experience already, and while he did struggle at times, with the players that Derby already have, he would have ample opportunity to learn from those who have made the second tier their home throughout their careers.

Ben Jackson could be the key to Derby's future at left-back

With five assists to his name already in 2024/25, it is clear to see that Jackson has the attacking capabilities in his game that Warne wants from his full-backs and he could prove to be a shrewd signing.

The Barrow ace is athletic, and is more than willing to run up and down the left flank to help support his winger. His ability to cross the ball is an attribute that suits this current system at Pride Park, and he could be the player to take on the reins at left-back.

Derby have had success signing players who have played in League Two recently, with Kane Wilson joining the club at the start of last season, just over a year after he was playing for Forest Green Rovers in the fourth tier.

It is important that the East Midlands side find players that are cheaper as it is clear that they do not have a budget as large as some of their rivals in the Championship, but they need to keep this squad fresh and competition for places has to be high.

This could easily be Forsyth's final season in football, and with Elder's injury record, there is no guarantee that he can keep up with the demands of a full campaign by himself. Signing Jackson is the perfect way to replace their modern-day club legend with a player who could have a similar impact over the course of the next few years.