Derby County: Paul Warne must consider dropping 27-y/o ahead of QPR clash - View | OneFootball

The striker is yet to find the back of the net for the Rams, after joining in the summer on loan from Swansea City.

Derby County have hit a rocky patch over the last few weeks, and have lost their last three matches in the Championship, despite starting the 2024-25 season fairly solidly.

Defeats to Sheffield United, Norwich City and most recently Sunderland have seen Paul Warne's team slip into the bottom half of the table after eight matches, with the Rams needing to pick up a victory against Queens Park Rangers this weekend to right some of the wrongs.

One area that Derby do seem to be struggling in at the moment is scoring goals from open play.

Warne's side have been prolific from set pieces once again, following a tremendous 2023/24 campaign that saw them dominate from corners, but last year's excellence is proving to be this year's reliance.

It is a situation that must be rectified quickly, and although Jerry Yates has impressed with his link-up play since arriving from Swansea City on loan in the summer, he is yet to find the back of the net in a Rams shirt.

It does lead to the question of whether or not he should be dropped for Saturday's clash at Pride Park, with James Collins and Dajaune Brown waiting for their chance to impress.

Paul Warne dropping Jerry Yates from starting XI must be considered

Although he has formed great chemistry with Kayden Jackson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in his short-time at the club already, as a striker, Yates knows that he needs to start finding the back of the net.

His goal-scoring record in the Championship is decent, but not extraordinary, and Warne does know that he will have to rely on goals from other positions if history does repeat itself.

Against Sunderland, Yates looked incredibly isolated and did not have too much to work off, despite getting into positions where he perhaps would have had the chance to fire a shot away if given the opportunity.

However, there is also the question as to why at points he has not pulled the trigger on occasions where it seems like the only option.

The 27-year-old was caught a couple of times at the Stadium of Light in situations where he should have shot, allowing the Black Cats' defenders to nip in and win the ball back.

He has had just three shots in six games, hitting the target only once, registering an xG rate of 0.36, as per FotMob. If he is to continue at this rate, then he will rack up around 21 shots for the season, a number that will not lead to many goals.

Dropping Yates against QPR could inspire him to get into those positions that allow him better chances of scoring, and prove to his manager that he should be the first-choice striker going forward.

Jerry Yates' lack of goals is a positive for other Derby County strikers

As is the cut-throat nature of football, those who are the teammates of Yates will see a slight positive in his scoring troubles as it potentially allows them a chance in the starting 11.

James Collins has been the Rams' number nine since his arrival on a free two years ago, but he has found minutes hard to come by in 2024/25, and has started just once so far this season.

He has also failed to provide the goals necessary to stake a claim for the position, registering just one shot in 116 minutes of action across four games.

Kayden Jackson is possibly Derby's greatest claimant to the starting role of striker, as he has found the back of the net three times already in black-and-white.

He started the season in fine form, scoring in three consecutive home matches in league and cup, but his best position is out on the wing - a role which is perhaps harder to replace at this moment in time.

With Dajaune Brown perhaps not yet ready for the pressure that comes with leading the line, Yates will more than likely start against QPR, but time could be ticking if goals do not start to flow soon, as the Rams look to end their losing streak.