Derby County should capitalise on Hull City call to help forward reignite career: View | OneFootball

At just 24-years-old, Aaron Connolly already has a wealth of Premier League and Championship experience. But after a stop-start season at Hull City, the Republic of Ireland striker is set to move on this summer, and Derby County could be his next destination.

Connolly started his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, and quickly made a name for himself in the U21 side. He scored 25 goals in 35 appearances for the Seagulls' developmental team, before moving up to the senior squad for the 2019/20 campaign.

Connolly was only 19 when he was handed his Premier League debut by manager Graham Potter. On his first start, he scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. However, he struggled to carry on this form and properly adapt to the top flight, netting just five times overall in 45 games.

He had spent the start of 2019 on loan at Luton Town, but injuries meant that he only joined up with his temporary teammates in April - featuring just twice for the Hatters.

A move to Middlesbrough failed in finding his goal-scoring form once again, with loans to Italian club Venezia and Hull offering little in terms of game-time.

Despite this, Connolly joined the Tigers permanently last summer, going on to score eight goals for the club as they narrowly missed out on the play-offs. But, his contract was not renewed for the upcoming 2024/25 season, and he's now looking for his fourth club in four years.

Derby's forward problems

Although the Rams finished second in League One last season, Paul Warne is lacking options in the striker position ahead of their first Championship campaign since 2022.

Dajaune Brown and Conor Washington are the only two forwards that Derbyhave contracted after the summer. Martyn Waghorn and Dwight Gayle are both due to leave at the end of June, while James Collins, the Rams' top scorer last season, is still in the process of agreeing terms with the club.

Brown, 19, is a great prospect for Derby. However, he is still very early on in his development and still needs a loan to teams in League One or Two to prove he has what it takes to become the number nine at Pride Park in the coming years.

Washington, 32, had an on-and-off first year in black and white. Injuries plagued his season, and he was kept out of the team by an in-form Collins during the time he was fit. So, Warne is in need of options to help keep his team in the second tier.

Connolly needs a fresh start

Contrary to his youth career, Connolly has struggled in senior football, particularly in terms of goal-scoring. But, a lack of consistency in minutes on the pitch has been a factor in this.

The 2023/24 campaign was the first time he featured in over 50% of the league games in a season since 2019/20.

A broken toe impacted him at Hull and a recurring problem with the injury saw him stuck on the bench throughout October. But, it was an issue that improved over time, as Connolly found himself back in the team.

Competition for places at the Tigers was extremely high, with the likes of Noah Ohio, Billy Sharp and Liam Delap all in the ranks. However, the promise of regular football at Derby could tempt the former Brighton prospect.

A tenacious, battling striker, Connolly fits perfectly into the Paul Warne style that won promotion last time out. At only 24, he still has time on his side - and alongside Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Corey Blackett-Taylor, he could make himself a star at Derby and prove the doubters wrong.