Mohammed Fuseini is loving life at Derby County after a glowing recommendation from a familiar face. The Ghanaian attacker joined the Rams on a season-long loan from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise this summer, with the club holding an option to make the move permanent.
Fuseini, a product of the Right to Dream Academy, revealed he sought the advice of Derby right-back Max Johnston before finalising his switch. The pair were teammates at Austrian champions Sturm Graz. "Before I came, I already texted him and then he said I should come and I am going to love it here," Fuseini said. He added that seeing a friendly face at the club has been a welcome boost. "Yes, it was really nice to see [a friendly face]," he noted.
Building his career
The 24-year-old forward arrives with a solid pedigree, having won the Austrian Bundesliga with Sturm Graz. He spent last season on loan at Danish side Randers, where he scored nine goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances. That form prompted a move to Union Saint-Gilloise, for whom he netted 15 times in 76 total outings. Derby manager John Eustace identified Fuseini as a key target to strengthen his attacking options this summer.
Early Championship impact
Fuseini has made three Championship appearances for Derby so far, though he is yet to register a goal or an assist. He was booked during the Rams' last outing, a 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham City before the international break. That result leaves Derby County 22nd in the Championship table with just four points from their opening seven games. Their recent form shows one win and four losses from the last five, including consecutive defeats to West Ham, West Brom and Birmingham.
The club's next match is a key trip to face Burnley, who sit 24th, on Saturday. Eustace has stressed the importance of securing a victory before the next international break. Derby will be without several key players for that fixture, including Craig Forsyth, Derry Murkin, Matt Clarke and Rhian Brewster. Check the latest team news on our injuries page.
Fuseini's adaptation will be important as Derby seek to climb the table. His loan deal runs until the end of the current Championship season, with the club retaining the choice to sign him permanently next summer. The next test comes at Turf Moor on 19 September.
