It's hard to see a silver lining in the dark cloud hanging over Pride Park. The Rams have been absolutely horrific this season: One lousy win and seven points from 20 games and a goals tally of 10 for and 45 against, good for 20th and dead-last position in the Premier League.

The 10-point gap between Paul Jewell's side and the sacred 17th place - currently occupied by fellow newcomers Sunderland - looms like an unbridgeable chasm. But Jewell is enthusiastic, and chairman Adam Pearson told Sky Sports that his manager could make up to five signings during the January transfer window. "Two or three players from outside the UK”  are being targeted, Pearson separately said on County's official website.

One of these is Macedonian international defender Vlade Lazarevski, who was brought for a trial recently, West Ham defender Calum Davenport is another name that has come up, along with his teammate Bobby Zamora. Wigan midfielder Kevin Kilbane is also said to be on Jewell’s list. The Rams may move for Nigerian striker Patrick Ogunsoto, currently with Belgian club Westerlo, according to The Sun.

'The 10-point gap between Paul Jewell's side and the sacred 17th place - currently occupied by fellow newcomers Sunderland - looms like an unbridgeable chasm'


The Derby Evening Telegraph have reported that Jewell has recalled all players currently out on loan: Defender Lewin Nyatanga, 19, and Irish striker Jon Macken are beinge brought back from Barnsley, joining  Michael Johnson, who has already returned from a three-month spell with Sheffield Wednesday. Bob Malcolm and Mo Camara will come back from Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City respectively.

Needless to say, Derby will need every last one of these reinforcements. The team's needs are so great it's hard to even say where to start. Other than Kenny Miller and Robert Earnshaw, are there any players who could even start for another Premier League side? Unlikely, although Lewis Price has done quite well in the two games he has played since replacing Stephen Bywater in the much-assaulted Rams goal.

And Derby have shown some signs of life since Jewell took over from Billy Davies at the end of November. Yes, they have a single point (from a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on December 23) but they have also been incredibly unlucky in that time span.

The Boxing Day game against Liverpool was probably the most egregious example, as County were positioned to steal a point when Steven Gerrard redirected a poorly-cleared ball into the Derby net in the dying seconds  (there may have been a foul on that play as well). Jewell's debut match saw the Rams lose to Sunderland on a goal scored in the third minute of stoppage time. And just yesterday, Jewell's men had the chance to take a 2-0 lead over Blackburn with a penalty that was saved by Brad Friedel. The Rams ended up losing 2-1.

Obviously for Derby to even think about a return to the Premier League next season they are going to need their luck to turn - and then some. But it is said that good teams create their own luck and vice versa. Maybe that is what is at work here. Either way, I fear Derby look like a lost cause.