After a lacklustre start to the 2016/17 season under Nigel Pearson, Derby County have turned their season around since Steve McClaren’s appointment in October.

The Rams currently sit seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table, two points outside the play-off places.

McClaren has already started to make alterations to his squad this January, his first transfer window since his return as Derby boss, adding David Nugent and Julien De Sart from Middlesbrough, as they aim for a top six finish.

Players have left as others have come in; Lee Grant joined Stoke City and forward Andreas Weimann joined Wolverhampton on loan.

Derby are blessed with a number of talented attacking players - Nugent has recently added to that and Sky Sports are reporting interest in St Mirren winger Kyle McAllister.

Here are two players who must be axed by Derby before the end of the January transfer window.

Matej Vydra

Striker Vydra joined Derby for £8m during the summer from Watford.

After two successful spells at Watford, the Czech international came with a good reputation.

However, Vydra has struggled for form this season, scoring just two league goals for the Rams.

Since McClaren’s appointment, Derby have returned to a 4-3-3 formation, with Darren Bent or Dave Nugent preferred in the ‘number nine’ role.

The January addition of Nugent will only limit opportunities for Vydra, who has played predominantly on the left of a forward line.

With McClaren already having a large pool of attacking players to choose from, Vydra could find himself surplus to requirements.

Nick Blackman

Blackman is another of many forwards currently on Derby’s books.

The 27-year-old has been out injured following knee surgery, meaning he has not featured yet under McClaren.

The Derby Telegraph reported that McClaren was keen to see what Blackman could offer him, either in a wide role or central in attack.

But with the Rams boss looking to add players to his squad, Blackman’s return from injury might come too late.

With Blackman, Derby could be tempted to move the forward out on loan for the remainder of the season before giving him an opportunity next season.

 

Derby fans… Do you agree these two players could be moved out this January? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!