Derby County have allowed youth team graduate Will Hughes to leave Pride Park this summer for Watford, after a six year spell in the first team at the former top flight club.

Hughes is still only 22 despite seemingly having been around forever, and the young midfielder will join the Premier League with the hope of becoming one of the best in the position.

Derby will bid Hughes a fond farewell, but boss Gary Rowett must now turn his attentions to replacing the young playmaker.

The Rams are sure to be linked with a host of names from across the Football League, but one man from just down the road can potentially stand out from the rest.

24-year-old Australian Jackson Irvine has been sensational for Burton Albion since a move to Staffordshire from Ross County last summer, registering an impressive ten strikes in his debut campaign in English football.

Born in Melbourne, Irvine moved to Celtic in 2010 from Melbourne Victory, but despite not making the grade at Parkhead, has flourished in England’s second tier.

Whereas Hughes was an effective playmaker, his game lacked goals, and this was something the Rams seriously lacked last season.

Only 54 goals across the league campaign limited the club to a 9th place finish, but adding Irvine’s prowess behind the front two would add another dimension to Derby’s game.

The player’s contract extends to 2019 so Derby will have to stump up a fee for the player, but goals from midfield are priceless in this division, and Irvine could be the man to fire the Rams back into the top six.