Derby County urged to sign in-form attacker who looks "deadly in the box" this summer | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit would like to see Marcus Harness join the club permanently.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County forward Marcus Harness has been thriving under John Eustace in recent weeks.

The on-loan Ipswich Town attacker is developing a useful partnership with Jerry Yates up front for the Rams, which has been a key factor in their improved form under new boss Eustace.

Derby have now won three games in a row for the first time this season, with consecutive victories against Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle this month having greatly improved their chances of surviving in the second tier.

Harness has scored three goals and assisted one during that run, which has left the Rams just one point adrift of safety, so he will hope that he can continue his good form between now and the end of the season in order to help preserve the club's Championship status.

Derby urged to strike permanent deal for Harness

We asked our Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, whether he feels as though the club should try and sign Harness on a permanent basis in the summer if they stay up this season.

"Under John Eustace, Marcus Harness has looked a completely different player," Shaun said.

"He understands his role within the team, his link-up play has been excellent, he has looked quicker, sharper, he looks really, really deadly in the box, he has got goals and assists - he is just looking a completely different player to the one we saw under Paul Warne.

"I do not think Paul Warne knew where to play him. He was kind of pushed into three or four different positions and then just getting the odd bit of game time here and there, which was not helping him.

"I think there was always a decent player in there, but under Eustace he has found a place and is playing every game. He is the key player. He is pivotal now to us staying up.

"With all the injuries we have as well, it has almost helped to settle the team. We have now got Yates and Harness looking really good together, we have got Armstrong and Adams, Thompson as well in there. It just seems like it has clicked.

"It has helped a lot of these players to feel wanted, they understand their role within the team, and I think they have all improved, but Harness, especially, out of all the starting eleven, has just come on leaps and bounds, and he looks like a completely different player.

"I would 100 per cent be trying to get him to sign for us at the end of the season, because I think he is enjoying his football now, and it looked like, at the end of the game against Plymouth when he was having his interview, that he has got a real rapport with the fans.

"Hopefully he has found a home at Derby, as I would be more than happy if we manage to tie him down to a deal."

Harness is out of contract at Portman Road

Harness' loan spell at Pride Park will finish at the end of the season, but with his Ipswich contract set to expire this summer, Derby could have a realistic chance of signing him permanently if they are still a Championship club.

The 29-year-old scored four goals for the Tractor Boys as they won automatic promotion to the Premier League last season, but considering the calibre of players they have signed in his position during their time in the top flight, it seems unlikely that he will be required next season even if they are relegated.

The ideal scenario for the Rams would be for Harness to fire them to safety during the next couple of months, and then for him to join the club permanently on a free transfer in the summer.