Derby County may have hoped to bring in another striker on deadline day, but their failure to do so should not be viewed as bad.
After signing Jerry Yates on loan from Swansea City earlier this summer and Kayden Jackson as a free agent after six seasons with Ipswich Town, many expected another forward to be brought in to add further firepower.
However, Derby appeared to miss the boat, instead signing Nat Phillips and Marcus Harness from Liverpool and Ipswich for the remainder of the season.
This leaves the Rams with the same front line as two months ago, but with teenager Dajaune Brown still on the roster, it may be the start of something really remarkable at Pride Park.
Brown was hotly tipped to leave on loan
Following promotion to the Championship, Paul Warne knew he needed to nail the transfer policy this summer, and to some extent he has.
The signings of David Ozoh, Jacob Widell Zetterström, and Kenzo Goudmijn are already paying off, and they have not lost any of their important players, including Eiran Cashin.
The Rams completed the most of their business pretty early, which has helped build the groundwork for the remainder of the season, with most of the roster, including Brown, having a full preseason.
After thriving on loan in the National League with Gateshead, many expected him to spend at least half of the season away from DE24. However, only two of Warne’s players have been loaned out: Darren Robinson and Tyrese Fornah.
Despite the Rams boss explained in August that eight clubs were interested in the 19-year-old striker, it appears that he believes Derby is the greatest environment for his development, which will please fans.
Brown has already been involved in the first-team this season
Brown’s role last season was rather limited. He made one start in the EFL Trophy and four cameo appearances, two of which were in League One.
The Nottingham-born forward has already made his Championship debut against Bristol City in 2024/25, as well as appearing in Derby’s two Carabao Cup matches.
He had an assist against Chesterfield and was a continuous threat to the Spireites’ defenders, demonstrating that League Two is a step below his talent.
He came on in place of Yates in the Rams’ 3-0 win against Bristol City last Saturday, playing the final five minutes in a dominant display at Pride Park.
Although the game had practically ended by the time Brown entered the pitch, he continued to press the Robins’ defenders, causing panic among the visiting backline.
It’s an extremely exciting time for the 19-year-old, but he requires more management than any other player on the team. Brown has a highly potential future ahead of him, and Warne’s decision not to send him out on loan may indicate to both him and the club’s supporters that he will be a valuable asset this season.