Derby County’s return to the Championship has been strong, as the Rams are presently 12th in the table, exceeding initial expectations.
Paul Warne, who has been relegated in every season he has managed in the second tier, has continued to make his team difficult to beat after taking over from Liam Rosenior while the club was in League One over two years ago.
While wins have been more difficult to come by in recent weeks than they were at the start of the season, the East Midlands side has maintained their mid-table position as the Championship prepares to resume after a week off due to the final international break in 2024.
Although Derby players and supporters may have enjoyed the last three months, one player, Tom Barkhuizen, has found the 2024/25 campaign exceedingly challenging. However, January presents an excellent opportunity for the out-of-favour winger.
Barkhuizen has struggled for minutes this season
This season has not quite been what the 31-year-old had planned for when his agreement was extended at the end of the Rams’ promotion push for another year.
He has made just four appearances so far back since their return to the Championship, all of them coming in August. A calf injury sustained in the warm-up before his side’s 1-0 win over Cardiff City a game later forced him to miss the next nine games, with Corey Blackett-Taylor, Kayden Jackson, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing taking over on the flanks during that time.
Barkhuizen may have expected to return to the team immediately after recovering from an injury, but he has only made two unused substitute appearances since regaining his fitness.
It’s been a tremendously trying season, especially because Derby’s wing alternatives haven’t exactly pulled up trees on their own.
However, when he has appeared in the Championship this season, he has not demonstrated the quality required to ensure that the Rams have enough to remain in the division, and moving on may be the best option for his career.
Barkhuizen has to look for a move in January
On the one hand, Warne is currently looking for players off the bench with second-tier experience, but Barkhuizen has yet to shown the ability to play a role.
Derby are expected to hunt for a new winger in the January transfer window, and the 31-year-old will need to find a new club, possibly in League One.
The ex-Preston North End man requires consistent minutes, which will not be available at Pride Park Stadium unless the Rams experience an injury crisis. Leaving the club to obtain game time is crucial not just for the present, but also for the future, as it appears that this will be Barkhuizen’s final season in black and white, regardless of what happens this winter.
As a result, he’ll be eager to place himself in the shop window and demonstrate that, despite turning 30, he can still cut it. A six-month loan stay would allow him to do so, but a permanent exit may be preferable still.
The winger demonstrated in 2023/24 that he is still more than comfortable playing in the third division, and he may offer critical goals and assists from the flanks for a team aiming for a top six finish.
Barkhuizen has an impressive EFL CV, and clubs in League One will undoubtedly be keen if Derby are willing to let him go. Right now, it appears that a January departure would be the best option for all parties.
