Derby County backed for letting striker leave Pride Park - "it’s an excellent move" | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit backs the club's decision to send Dajaune Brown to Vale Park

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County striker Dajaune Brown has completed a season-long loan move to ex-Ram Darren Moore's Port Vale.

The 19-year-old Jamaican, who has previously been called up to Jamaica's U23 squad for training, joins the Valiants on a temporary deal after playing in both of Derby's Carabao Cup games this season.

Dajaune Brown heading to Port Vale is an "excellent move"

Soccer Football - Championship - Derby County v Sunderland - Pride Park, Derby, Britain - January 21, 2025 Derby County's Dajaune Brown reacts Action Images/Peter Cziborra EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTH

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, has backed the club's decision to loan Brown to Port Vale - he previously called for Brown to be loaned in May.

Woodward placed emphasis on how it will be key for his development, "I think it’s an excellent move for him. It’s the next step in his development, a League One club that are looking good, I think it’s a perfect move for him," he explained.

The Fan Pundit highlighted Derby's depth in the striker role as the obvious key factor behind the loan decision. "He’s not going to get any game time at Derby, he’d probably have been fourth or fifth choice striker so once everyone's back fit he’d be lucky to even get in the matchday squad, which is no good for him at his age," Woodward told FLW.

Excluding Brown, the Rams have Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen who are all natural number nines as well. The latter two were confirmed by Eustace to have started training with the first-team squad for the first time this season as they come back from injury.

Morris has been doing more than fine on his own though - the former Luton Town man has scored three in as many league games so far this campaign.

Derby County told they could look to sell Dajaune Brown after his Port Vale loan

Woodward stressed the importance of Brown getting experience in a higher league, telling FLW, "He needs to be getting minutes, he needs to be in the hustle and bustle of it all."

The Nottingham-born forward scored nine goals in 22 appearances during a successful loan spell at National League side Gateshead two years ago.

"So, to me, excellent move for him and hopefully he’ll score some goals at League One level, get some confidence and either we bring him back into the fold next season or we sell him and make a bit of money on him," Woodward continued.

Port Vale's ambitions under Moore definitely suit Brown's needs. The manager has made clear the club's intentions are not simply to "make up the numbers" in League One.

Moore, who played 83 times for the East Midlands outfit between 2006 and 2008, told BBC Radio Stoke, "We must strive for more and challenge everyone in League One."

Brown could very well be a proposed like-for-like replacement of Lorent Tolaj who left the Valiants for Plymouth Argyle after his "substantial release clause" was paid out. In his only full season at the club, 24/25, Tolaj netted 15 goals and nine assists - but he is comfortable in more positions than Brown.

Rather than allowing a promising talent to warm the bench, Derby have placed him in an environment where regular football is seemingly guaranteed, which backs up what Woodward said about the move being a win-win.