During my time following the Rams, there have been many excellent Rams-produced players; some have even come close to being Rams legends.

Ron Webster and Steve Powell were probably the closest, with perhaps Tommy Powell and Jack Parry from an earlier era. More recently David Langan has been as good as any.

But as I’ve mentioned before in this column, during my lifetime Derby County has always been pretty much a club that lives by the transfer market. For better or worse, Rams teams have been largely made up of players brought in from the outside, their quality depending on the ability of the manager at the time and the funds available.

That being the case, the launching of the Rams Academy a few years ago was for me a cause for optimism mixed with at least a little scepticism. I was optimistic because I think clearly it’s the right way to go. Young footballers have to be produced, and as a Football League club the Rams have an obligation to do their part. Also, as a club which is not one of the biggest in the land, this is a way to help the club compete by acquiring good players more cheaply.

But I was also doubtful because; well, that’s not who we have always been, is it? So, with a few years of operation behind it, how has the Academy done?

By my reckoning, there are currently four Academy graduates in the Rams’ first team squad: Jeff Hendrick and Will Hughes, both of course currently starring in the first team; Mason Bennett on loan at Bradford City, and Mark O’Brien on loan at Motherwell.

The one who most recently made his first appearance in the first team was Will Hughes, back in November of 2011; Mason Bennett first appeared in October, 2011.

Now here is the statistic which bothers me; no other Academy product has made his first team debut since Will Hughes.

I have not included Lee Grant in the count, because he came in most recently from the outside. Also, Callum Ball looked like a prospect at one time, but without ever quite making the grade.

Now, nobody is likely to complain too much about the Academy, as long as it produces the occasional Will Hughes or Jeff Hendrick. But it has now been very close to three years since we’ve seen a new Academy face in the first team. It does begin to look as though the production line has ground to a halt.

And I don’t just think it’s me who believes that; I think Steve McClaren may possibly feel that way too. Look at the flurry of young players he has signed in the last few months; Kelle Roos, Jonothan Mitchell, Alban Bunjaku, Ivan Calero, Alefe Santos and Omar Mascarell. These have the look of players who were signed because the Academy is not keeping up.

Two Academy players have sat on the bench this season, without getting the call: Farrend Rawson for the Charlton League Cup match and Kwame Thomas for the match at Blackburn.

I know some will say that a club running hard for promotion is not the place to be blooding inexperienced youngsters; but if they’re good enough they have to play some time. We’ve signed plenty of players from the outside who were not good enough, and they got a game.

All of this would not matter much if the Rams’ Academy was being run on a shoestring. But go to the club’s web site and review the Academy section. Read the long list of coaches, sports scientists and fitness gurus: this is not a low budget operation. And the Derby County board knows that.

Derby County is a club run by hard-headed business people who keep a close eye on the bottom line. It’s more than possible that one day, Steve McClaren will feel a tap on his shoulder and hear a well-modulated voice say;

“Hey, Steve, what’s the Academy done for us lately?” *

*Author’s Note: In truth, I don’t know the reporting relationships regarding the Academy and the first team coaching staff; Steve McClaren may not be responsible for the Academy, but I imagine he’s as interested as anyone in how the money is spent.

Photo: Action Images

MadAmster added 08:07 - Oct 3 The article is correct, factually, however, the view is limited. Two current Academy starlets have been mentioned but we have more than a couple of youth internationals at the Academy. Max Lowe is one I expect to break through sooner rather than later and, IIRC, he has made the bench on a couple of occasions in the past. The Academy isn't going to throw up a Will Hughes or a Tom Huddlestone every year. The Academy costs around £1M a year. That is, or used to be at any rate, covered by sponsors who choose to sponsor the Academy rather than the club and, as such, doesn't take funds away from the senior squad.

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