Derby County have an issue that needs to be fixed: View | OneFootball

Derby County have put up a decent season in terms of aiming to gain Championship promotion but there is a lingering feeling that the club need to avoid a huge risk regardless of promotion - with their ageing squad being an issue.

Paul Warne's men have been impressive with just three losses in the league since the end of October, vying with Bolton and Barnsley for a top two spot with leaders Portsmouth not far out of sight.

The Pride Park outfit haven't spent consecutive seasons in the third division since the mid-1980's but whilst that may end soon, it could be a return if they don't sort their squad out for the long-term.

The huge issue facing Derby County at the moment

Derby County failed to get into the play-offs last season with a final day loss to Sheffield Wednesday, and as with the end of every season that ends in disappointment, huge steps have to be taken in terms of planning ahead to resolve what went wrong.

Derby's active approach on the recruitment front this season including the signings of Conor Washington, Martyn Waghorn, Dwight Gayle and Curtis Nelson as experienced men, alongside the more youthful signings of Tyrese Fornah and Kane Wilson as marquee signings.

But whilst the Rams are enjoying a decent season in which they sit second in League One and with promotion looking a real possibility despite defeat to Barnsley at Oakwell, it's yet to be seen where they will be going from here on in terms of forward planning.

No fewer than 14 players are out of contract at the end of the season, and recruits will have to be brought in if they are to keep their squad depth.

However, the huge issue is that a lot of their squad are massively ageing - and that will need to be fixed going forward, regardless of if promotion is achieved, but especially so if they do find themselves in the second-tier.

Derby County's average squad age

According to Transfermarkt, the average age of Derby County’s team is 27.7 years.

That number is increased massively by the likes of Scott Loach, Craig Forsyth, Waghorn and new recruit Gayle who are all 34 or older, whilst fellow stars James Collins, Korey Smith and Conor Hourinhane are all 33.

Experience is never a bad thing, especially with some of the aforementioned stars who have featured at Premier League level. But physicality and legs are crucial for a 46-game season, plus play-offs, if the Rams don’t finish in the top two.

In terms of the league in general, they have the oldest squad in the division - beating next best Stevenage by two months and Port Vale by a year and a half - and that will definitely need addressing if they are to plan for the future.

The youth system at Derby is extremely impressive, especially for a team at third-tier level where you can't attract the players that the Premier League does.

Max Bird, Louie Sibley and Eiran Cashin are three recent examples but the likes of Jason Knight, Malcolm Ebiowei, Festy Ebosele, Lee Buchanan, Omari Kellyman have all come through in the last few years.

But it's the major graduates such as Morgan Whittaker, Max Lowe, Jayden Bogle and Liam Delpa that Derby should be focusing on repeating in terms of developing young stars. Blessed with one of the best youth setups in the country, it's somewhat odd to see the Rams with such an old squad when they have been famed for bringing through some top youngsters over the past few seasons.

Experience may well work at bringing them back up to the Championship in the coming months but for the long-term future of clubs, having a solid plan for the future is invaluable for securing financial security for years ahead.