John Eustace has already made his most important signing of the summer at Derby County, he has Paul Warne’s backing

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Derby County have had their first taste of football in the 2025/26 season.

The Rams left it late to find an equaliser against non-league side Matlock Town on Saturday afternoon, but on what was a very warm day in Derbyshire, John Eustace will have been pleased with the work he saw from his players.

More signings have been teased by the head coach ahead of a trip to Austria next week, and with less than a month until the opening Championship fixtures of the campaign, excitement is starting to build.

There are already four new players through the door at Pride Park and while some may have fears over Patrick Agyemang’s £5.8m fee, Derby have already made their most important signing, and he has the backing of Paul Warne.

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Paul Warne backs Carlton Morris to do well at Derby County

Eustace took over in DE24 from Warne in February, and there is no denying that the correct decision was made by David Clowes as Derby avoided relegation on the final day of the season.

Without survival, Carlton Morris would not have joined the East Midlands outfit this summer, and the former head coach of the Rams has backed the striker to do well in 2025/26.

He said (via: Derbyshire Live): “We signed Carlton as a young lad from Norwich and he did really well. He came in with a really competitive front line. At the time of his second spell, I had Michael Smith, Freddie Ladapo and Kyle Vassell, so it was some frontline.

“He played in numerous positions across the front for me, and he can play as the lone striker or in a two. He’s very good with his back to goal, really strong in the air, he’s brave, and obviously can score goals too.

“When he left us, he nicked a goal against me when he played for Barnsley, who bought him from Norwich, and then he went to Luton. In fairness, it felt like he’d found his spiritual home at Luton. He went through the leagues with them, and he’s a real leader. Morally, he’s really good and he will be amazing around the place.

“He’s a really positive figure, and a real winner. He’s determined to win all the time and every time I’ve managed against him since, he’s been a thorn in my side. But even in games where he has played against me, he always comes and speaks to us after the games. He’s a really good kid, and I think he’ll do amazingly well at Derby.”

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Carlton Morris has to be John Eustace’s first-choice striker

Matt Bloomfield slammed his Luton Town players following relegation in May, and with the Hatters now playing in League One, Morris did not seem overly keen on staying in the third tier.

He joined Derby in June, and with his wealth of experience in the Championship and a stunning 2023/24 Premier League campaign to his name, Eustace has to ensure that he is the main striker for the new season.

Agyemang will need time to settle, and while Lars-Jorgen Salvesen must not be forgotten, he is still working his way back from injury.

Morris finished as Luton’s top scorer in each of the last three seasons and if he can replicate that at Derby, then there is no denying that he could be the club’s best signing of the summer.