Derby County should capitalise on Hull City call to help forward reignite career

Aaron Connolly is only 24 years old, yet he already has a ton of Premier League and Championship experience. The Republic of Ireland striker, however, is expected to leave Hull City this summer after a patchy season there, and Derby County might be his next stop.

Connolly began playing with Brighton & Hove Albion, where he soon established himself in the U21 team.Before joining the senior squad for the 2019–20 season, he made 35 appearances for the Seagulls’ development team, scoring 25 goals.

Graham Potter, the manager, gave Connolly his Premier League debut when he was just 19 years old.He scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on his debut start. Nevertheless, he found it difficult to maintain this form and successfully adjust to the top division, scoring just five goals in 45 appearances altogether.

He had only made two appearances for the Hatters this season after spending the first part of 2019 on loan at Luton Town due to injury. He only finally rejoined his temporary teammates in April.

After moving to Middlesbrough, he was unable to regain his goal-scoring form, and his loan stints at Hull and Venezia in Italy provided limited opportunity for game time.

Despite this, Carroll made a permanent move to the Tigers in the summer of last year, and he went on to score eight goals for the team while they just missed out on the playoffs. However, his contract was not extended for the 2024–2025 season, so he is currently searching for his fourth team in four years.

Derby’s forward problems

In advance of their first Championship campaign since 2022, Paul Warne’s Rams are short on options at the striker position, despite their second-place finish in League One last season.

Conor Washington and Dajaune Brown are the only two forwards that Derby signed following the summer. Due to leave at the end of June are Martyn Waghorn and Dwight Gayle, while James Collins—last season’s leading scorer for the Rams—is still negotiating terms with the team.

Brown, 19, is a very promising Derby prospect. Nevertheless, he is still in the very early stages of his development and will require a loan to either a League One or League Two team in order to demonstrate his ability to take over as Pride Park’s number nine in the future.

Dajaune Brown spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at National League Gateshead – winning the FA Trophy

Washington, 32, had an on-and-off first year in black and white. Injuries plagued his season, and he was kept out of the team by an in-form Collins during the time he was fit. So, Warne is in need of options to help keep his team in the second tier.

Connolly needs a fresh start

Contrary to his youth career, Connolly has struggled in senior football, particularly in terms of goal-scoring. But, a lack of consistency in minutes on the pitch has been a factor in this.

The 2023/24 campaign was the first time he featured in over 50% of the league games in a season since 2019/20.

During his time at Hull, he suffered a broken toe, which left him sidelined for the entirety of October due to a reoccurring issue. But as Connolly was able to rejoin the team, the situation got better with time. There was fierce competition among the Tigers’ roster, with players including Liam Delap, Noah Ohio, and Billy Sharp. Nonetheless, Derby’s offer of regular action might entice the former Brighton prospect.

Connolly is a hard-charging striker who embodies the Paul Warne style that helped the team win promotion last season. Even at 24 years old, he still has time on his side. With Corey Blackett-Taylor and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing at his side, he may establish himself at Derby and silence his naysayers.

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