"Fully support" - John Eustace backed to seal fresh agreement for Derby County icon | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit has been discussing the future of Rams legend Craig Forsyth.

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...

After eventually securing their safety on the final day of the season, Derby County's attention now turns to how they can progress in the Championship.

John Eustace was given the short-term remit of survival after making the somewhat unexpected decision to return to Pride Park, where he enjoyed two seasons as a player, making the switch from play-off-chasing Blackburn Rovers on February 13th.

After accumulating 21 points from 14 games, finishing one point and three places ahead of relegated Luton Town, the 45-year-old has plenty of key decisions to make if the Rams aren't to be in the same position this time next year, with no fewer than 11 players currently out-of-contract in the East Midlands.

Unsurprisingly, with Derby having the oldest squad in the division when it comes to average age of the starting XI - per Transfermarkt, plenty of those have a vast array of Championship experience under their belts.

However, none have quite seen it all with the club like Craig Forsyth, with Eustace revealing his eagerness to see the 36-year-old stay in DE24 for what would be his 13th full season donning the black and white.

John Eustace backed to seal fresh Craig Forsyth, Derby County agreement

The Scottish left-back has made 382 appearances for Derby since March 2013 - 39 of which have come in the Championship this season, with all seven of his goal contributions proving vital, especially his assist for Nat Phillips' late winner at Hull City on 26 April.

Speaking to the press after the final day draw with Stoke, Eustace paid tribute to Forsyth's effort and strong versatility, which saw him utilised at centre-back and left-wing-back following Callum Elder's season-ending injury, as well as stating: "He's led by example and he's Derby through and through. He's somebody that I want to keep at the club for sure next season."

Unsurprisingly, given his efforts for the club during what has been a very mixed period, FLW's resident Ram, Shaun Woodward, has fully backed his decision to try and keep the second-tier's eighth-oldest player on the club's books.

"If John Eustace thinks Craig Forsyth can still do a job for Derby, then I fully support his decision," he stated. "Also, I think Craig Forsyth himself will know if he's still up to the level required for the Championship.

"He wouldn't want to play and make the team weaker," Woodward added. "He's proven in the last dozen games what an unbelievably consistent, solid performer he is for Derby.

"He's been left-back, centre-half, left-wing-back. He's been amazing in all three positions, he's just got the job done, he's so experienced, he's calm, a threat in both boxes and been a part of that amazing defence that has kept us in the league.

"So, if him and John Eustace think that he's got another year in him, then I support them both and I'd be more than happy to still see him in a Derby shirt," our fan pundit concluded.

Craig Forsyth's experience would still be invaluable to Derby's defensive sturdiness

As Woodward alluded to, the Rams' defensive record has been their strong point this term, keeping 11 clean sheets across the season, of which the vast majority have come at Pride Park.

Forsyth's experience and know-how has continued to be invaluable with the defender showing no signs of slowing down, being a part of six of those shutouts, as well as averaging 2.8 recoveries and being dribbled past just 0.3 times per game against opposition wingers - per Sofascore.

Furthermore, the 6'2" stalwart's aerial ability has also come in handy, winning over 50 per cent of his battles in the air and on the ground (per Sofascore), which proves exactly why Eustace wants to keep him as part of the Derby squad for next year, and his estimated weekly wage of £7,000 is also just below the average figure across the squad.