Derby County are risking David McGoldrick type disaster with current ace | OneFootball

The Rams are yet to agree a new contract with Kane Wilson and they must avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred with McGoldrick in 2023.

Derby County's stay in League One after relegation from the Championship in 2022 proved to be relatively short, with their second season particularly sweet.

Under the guidance of Paul Warne, the Rams won promotion back to the second tier less than two years after exiting administration and embarking on their journey in English football's third division.

However, the summer of 2023 saw a huge amount of change, as the 51-year-old was forced to find new players to help bounce back after the East Midlands outfit missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the campaign.

One of those to depart Derby was David McGoldrick, with the veteran striker joining his boyhood club, Notts County, where he remains to this day. But, supporters will still wish that a decision involving his future was made earlier, with history looking like it might repeat itself with one current star.

McGoldrick was incredible for Derby during the 2022/23 season

The Rams headed into League One without a squad for the most part, and owner David Clowes had to work quickly with interim manager Liam Rosenior to help put together a team of free agents and loans who could compete in the division.

The likes of Conor Hourihane, James Collins and Tom Barkhuizen all dropped at least one league to join the new project, while youngsters Eiran Cashin, Max Bird and Jason Knight continued to be the future.

However, the addition of McGoldrick was one that was especially exciting as he had shown in his final years with Sheffield United that he still had more than enough quality to feature further up the pyramid.

The veteran striker scored in just his third league game for Derby as they left it late to beat Peterborough United 2-1 at Pride Park.

It took a bit of time until his next goals came, but when they did, they started to flow, with the now 37-year-old scoring his first career hat-trick in October 2022 against Bristol Rovers. It was the first of three trebles that he would hit in black-and-white, with the other two coming against Forest Green Rovers and Morecambe.

Despite his form, there was one pressing issue - McGoldrick had only signed a one-year deal.

As the season wore on, fears started to grow that he was not going to put pen-to-paper on a new contract, and a 63rd minute penalty against Burton Albion to hand the Rams a 1-0 win proved to be his final goal for the club as he left for Notts County.

History may repeat itself with Wilson at Derby

In the years since he left Derby, it is clear to see that McGoldrick still had a lot to offer the club in League One and there was plenty of disappointment when he departed.

However, the Rams have not learned from their mistakes, it seems, with eccentric right-back, Kane Wilson, due to leave Pride Park if nothing is done with his contract situation in the summer.

He signed a two-year deal ahead of the 2023/24 campaign after joining from Bristol City, and he has become a real fan's favourite over the course of the last two seasons. But, this could all be for nothing if he does not sign on for next year.

John Eustace has to sit down with Wilson in the coming weeks and get the 25-year-old to extend his stay in DE24 as he is crucial to the team's success on the right flank.

His decision may just rest on Derby's ability to stay in the Championship though, and there are sure to be plenty of sides keeping a keen eye on his situation as he enters the final two months of his contract.