Derby County’s John Eustace wants EFL referees to protect “huge asset” Patrick Agyemang

Patrick Agyemang’s physicality has helped the American ahead shortly turn into considered one of Derby County’s most necessary gamers. It’s additionally sadly led to Agyemang being on the brunt of a number of defensive challenges this season.

Agyemang has tallied 10 targets in his first season in England, tying Carlton Morris for essentially the most amongst Rams gamers this marketing campaign. The previous Charlotte FC man has made fairly the influence at Satisfaction Park, serving to John Eustace’s squad to a present sixth-place spot within the EFL Championship desk.

Whereas many gamers have struggled with adjusting to the grueling schedule and elegance of the Championship, Agyemang has shined, scoring 4 targets for the reason that begin of 2026. Not solely has he scored targets, however Agyemang has additionally delivered robust hold-up play and gained ample fouls on each ends of the pitch.

Eustace is aware of Agyemang’s significance to the group and hopes he begins getting some safety from the league’s referees after some robust outings.

“He understands this can be a very bodily league and he’s one of many high performers within the division,” Eustace mentioned in a pre-match press convention Thursday. “I don’t suppose he will get protected as a lot as he ought to from the referees for certain due to his measurement and the best way he performs. I feel defenders are getting away with fouling him.

“That’s one thing that we’ve actually received to take a look at, to attempt to get extra safety for him,” Eustace added. “There’s a lot extra onerous work and extra improvement to return, which is essentially the most thrilling factor for me.”

Agyemang’s manufacturing at Derby County has not solely helped the Rams battle to be within the promotion combine, nevertheless it’s additionally saved him on the radar of the U.S. males’s nationwide group. The 25-year-old scored 5 targets in 10 USMNT caps final yr, serving to the squad attain the CONCACAF Gold Cup Remaining.

He’s considered one of 4 American strikers (Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright) to succeed in double figures throughout the membership season overseas, and can absolutely be preventing with all of them to be a part of the USMNT’s World Cup roster this summer season.

Eustace has excessive reward for Agyemang’s fast adjustment to life at Derby County, hoping he can proceed to construct off of what he’s delivered up to now.

“We’ve received an enormous asset on the soccer membership, and he’s received to proceed progressing and growing in the best way he has carried out,” Eustace mentioned. “I feel we’ve got to recollect once we introduced him in that we needed to wait six weeks as a result of he had a groin operation.

“He then needed to just about do a pre-season, however clearly we didn’t have time to try this correctly, so he’s needed to play video games to stand up to hurry and as much as health,” Eustace added. “Within the West Brom recreation once we put him on, he was electrical for that 10 minutes I feel and arrange the objective, so you would see doubtlessly what a high participant we’ve received.”

Derby County subsequent travels to Watford on Saturday earlier than visiting Hull Metropolis and internet hosting Blackburn Rovers to shut the month.