"Deep trouble" - Derby County: David Clowes urged to provide Paul Warne solution in January | OneFootball

The Rams have struggled for form in recent weeks, and will be looking forward to the January transfer window.

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's form has taken a hit in recent weeks and they have slowly dropped towards the relegation zone despite a positive start to the season.

The Rams have won just once in their last 11 league games, despite winning four of their first nine games on their return to the Championship.

Goals have been hard to come by for Paul Warne's side and he will be hoping that the January transfer window arrives sooner rather than later to aid his team's fight against relegation back to League One.

Derby need reinforcements and they will have already picked out at least one of their targets ahead of next month's window opening, with Louie Barry already linked with a loan move to Pride Park.

Verdict made on Derby's transfer policy

While they did do some good business in the summer, it is clear that the Rams still lack the quality that some of their rivals have in the second tier.

Ebou Adams, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, and Kenzo Goudmijn were all excellent additions, but Warne will know he needs more players with Championship experience, as well as those with the potential to become key players in the coming years.

Football League World has asked their Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, for the one demand he believes that Warne will have for David Clowes in January to help improve his squad for the second half of the season.

He told FLW: "We need attacking players, whether that be widemen or another frontman. We desperately need some creativity and someone that's going to support Yates, occupy centre-halves and give teams a different problem because, at the moment, Yates is completely isolated.

"The wingers are in such poor form as well, so we're not scoring enough, we're not creating enough. It's really, really poor, and I think at the moment we miss David Ozoh massively because he was the link between the midfield and the attack and without that midfielder breaking the lines we really don't cause teams any problems. They just sit in their formation, and it's easy to play against."

Shaun continued: "So, if Ozoh isn't going to be fit, and it sounds like he's struggling, I think we desperately need an attacking midfielder who can come in and do his job, almost as much as we need another centre-forward that can go and occupy centre-halves and support Yates.

"So, for me, an attacking midfielder and another centre-forward are a must, otherwise we're in deep trouble."

Jerry Yates needs more support

While Yates has had a decent start to life at Derby since joining on loan from Swansea City, it is clear that another striker is needed to give him more support and cover him if he needs to be rested or picks up an injury.

The Rams suffered without him a couple of weeks ago against his parent club, and they lacked a focal point up front. If they can bring in another forward who can support the 28-year-old and share the goals around, then the team will stand in good stead.

However, another failure to bring in a number nine with a good record in the division could see the slide towards the relegation zone continue and may resign them to scrap it out down the bottom of the table for the remainder of the campaign.

Clowes must give Derby the chance to fight against any potential return to League One, and ensuring they have a semi-prolific striker to work with Yates is a must in January.