Derby County have joined the race to sign Scottish Championship attacker Luke McCowan from Ayr United.

Football Insider have revealed that the Rams have joined Cardiff City and an unnamed Premier League side in watching the 21-year-old attacker.

There is a supposed strong interest for the young Scotsman coming south of the boarder after he has made a dazzling start to the 19/20 campaign.

In just 17 games across all competitions, McCowan has scored eight goals and recorded four assists, with five of those strikes coming in the league.

It is a run of form that has helped the side to second place in the division, and they trail Dundee United by just three points.

So far this season, McCowan has maintained the role of an attacking midfielder but has proven to be equally as effective on the wing or in the number 10 position.

Earlier this year, the hot prospect signed a new two-year deal with the club, with Ayr having set their sights on promotion to the Scottish Premier League themselves.

The verdict

Attacking players are the last place Derby should be looking at the moment. Their defence has been lacking and - especially given the recent injury to Richard Keogh – defensive options must be of higher priority.

However, if he really is versatile and can play anywhere across the front line, Derby and Philip Cocu should consider him as a serious option.

If he comes to Pride Park as a winger, he could be of great value, but after playing the majority of this campaign as a central-attacking midfielder, you can’t see him getting ahead of the likes of Lawrence or Duane Holmes.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.