Patrick Agyemang issue casts shadow over Derby County’s plans, Carlton Morris must take advantage

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Derby County finally announced the signing of Patrick Agyemang earlier this week, but they are not available for the start of the 2025/26 season.

The USA international has joined the Rams for an incredible £5.8m on Tuesday evening, becoming the East Midlands outfit’s fourth-most-expensive player of all time.

However, despite the excitement of the signing for Derby fans, there is an issue that John Eustace will have to work around. This comes after a challenging but ultimately revitalising 2024/25 season under Eustace.

He took the reins on February 13, 2025, with Derby sitting 21st in the Championship and seven points adrift of safety. However, Eustace, who replaced Paul Warne mid-season, implemented a disciplined defensive structure and a strong team spirit.

Despite losing his first three games, he guided the Rams to six wins and three draws from their next 11 matches, securing their Championship status on the final day by a single point.

This impressive rescue act has raised expectations for the upcoming season, making Agyemang’s unavailability a substantial hurdle for Eustace as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge.

Patrick Agyemang’s setback ahead of the 2025/26 season 

Although there is plenty to be excited about, Agyemang is set to miss the first few games of the 2025/26 campaign.

The striker was playing through the start of the 2025 MLS season with a hernia problem, and while he was able to continue on the pitch, it was with discomfort.

He will undergo surgery to correct this issue as soon as possible, but this means that there will be a reliance on Carlton Morris during this time. Eustace must also not forget about Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, who is returning from injury.

For now, it’s unknown how many games he will miss due to the surgery. Derby’s first six games include Stoke City, West Brom (League Cup), Coventry, Bristol City, Ipswich, and West Brom (League).

The Rams have had a mixture of results against these sides in the past; they did beat Coventry in both meetings last season, but given Coventry’s near miss in the play-offs, they won’t be taking any prisoners.

Having Agyemang fighting fit and ready for action would have benefited the Rams greatly, given that during his time at Charlotte FC, he made 72 appearances, scored 22 goals and provided 5 assists, the sort of firepower that Derby have been missing in the past. 

While frustrating, the surgery does offer Agyemang a necessary period of rest he wouldn’t have otherwise had, given the demanding MLS schedule.

Ordinarily, Agyemang would have had a minimal break between the end of the MLS season (which typically runs from March to late autumn) and the start of the English season, having played continuously since March 2025.

Carlton Morris to step up in season openers

Carlton Morris, a familiar face to manager John Eustace, arrived at Derby County earlier in the transfer window with the expectation of providing crucial depth and competition in the attacking third. 

This presents a crucial opportunity for Morris to establish himself as Derby’s primary striker. He’ll need to hit the ground running, demonstrating the clinical finishing and aerial strength he showed at Luton Town.

During his time with the Hatters, Morris made 137 appearances, scoring 39 goals and providing 16 assists. 

Eustace’s prior experience with Morris will be key to a swift integration. Their existing understanding could be a significant advantage, allowing Morris to adapt quickly and develop chemistry with his new teammates.

Strong performances now could solidify his claim as the striker Eustace can always trust going forward.