Championship side Derby County have today confirmed on their official website that forward Nick Blackman has joined Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv on loan for the entirety of the 2017/18 season.

The 27-year-old only moved to the iPro Stadium last year following a three-year stint at Reading, but things haven’t worked out at all for the Englishman in the East Midlands.

The forward, formerly of Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers, has earned just 30 appearances in his 18-month stint with the Rams, in which time he’s managed to net only once, which came in their 2-0 win at Cardiff City in September last year.

And the writing has been on the wall for some time given his exclusion from 17 of their last 18 Championship matchday squads (although injury did play a part in that), and he has now officially secured a move to Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Jordi Cruyff's side have been runners-up to Hapoel Be'er Sheva for the past two seasons and will be hoping to go one better next term, and thus add to their 21 domestic league titles.

And Blackman may be able to aid them in their quest, although he'll have to improve upon a spell at Derby which just hasn't worked out for the 27-year-old.

Yet, he is going to get the opportunity to salvage his flailing career in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Verdict: The Nick Blackman Derby County signed from Reading has not been the one that has donned the white of the Rams in the last 18 months.

The 27-year-old scored 11 goals in his last 25 games for the Royals to earn himself a move to the East Midlands, yet just one goal in 30 Championship games since then is not the return Derby fans would have been hoping for.

His future always looked to be away from the club when he appeared just twice in the second half of last season, and the opportunity for a fresh start with Maccabi Tel Aviv could be the move that kick-starts his career once again.

Derby fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!