How important is Kris Commons to Derby County?

How important is Kris Commons to Derby County? Well, take away the goals he has scored in the Championship this season and Nigel Clough's team would have earned 12 points fewer. That would have meant being down on 19 points, just a couple above Middlesbrough, who are in the relegation zone. Obviously another player could have been able to maybe get a couple of goals in his place, but surely not as many or at such important times when the team has needed that moment of magic that Commons can produce.

Forget playoff positions and dreams of promotion, the team will no doubt drop quickly down the table if the Scottish midfielder leaves in January. Commons' contract runs out at the end of the season, which means he is allowed to talk about a move in 2011. His 10 league goals and the wins which they've lead to have been great for the club, but they've also simultaneously been raising the amount which Derby will need to spend to keep hold of the team's star player, who is now in a really strong position to either push for a far higher wage at Derby or to push for a move to another club.

However, Commons' agent may not be holding all the cards. There are plenty of top Championship midfielders who are scoring freely and there are not that many top Championship clubs. Meanwhile Premier League clubs, despite the success of players like Kevin Nolan and Charlie Adam, both of whom were in the Championship last season, still seem reluctant to buy Championship players. Commons is on fire at the moment, but he's also 27 and some may wonder why he's never quite made it as high as Premier League football before. Adam Hammill and Lewis McGugan for example both offer youth as well as the ability to create and score goals from midfield.

It remains vital though that Derby do keep Commons, because despite the fact he may struggle to find a better club, Derby County will certainly not be as good a team if he is allowed to leave in the winter or next summer.

Article written by member Daniel Grigg.

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