Blues forward Marcus Harness has thanked Derby County fans for their support during his season-long loan spell with the Rams.

Harness, 29, made the switch to Pride Park on deadline day in August and went on to make 27 starts and 15 sub appearances, scoring four times, as the Rams finished 19th in the Championship, one point above the drop zone.

In March, the former Portsmouth and Burton man was nominated for Championship Player of the Month.

“Rams, it’s been a pleasure, thank you for having me!” Harness wrote on Instagram. “It was a big job to get it done in the end but I had a great time fighting until the very last day with you all. Thank you for the support throughout the good and the bad! Up the Rams.”

Harness’s Town contract is up this summer but with the club having an option for a further year which it seems likely they will take to ensure a fee.

Coventry-born Harness joined the Blues from Pompey for £750,000 in July 2022 and has made 38 starts and 51 sub appearances - including two from the bench in the Premier League at the start of the season - scoring 12 goals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marcus Harness (@marcusharness)

Photo: Matchday Images

Gforce added 12:44 - May 12 Did well for us in league one ,but I'm certain will be surplus to requirements for us next season, especially if we have ambitions of the top 2. Probably be sold for a nominal fee.
3

Broadbent23 added 12:45 - May 12 MH did well during his Derby spell, but we have a dilemma with our midfield players. We need to upgrade our midfield before returning to the PL. It is crucial to recruit a Premier class midfield player and then sell or end contracts of at least two midfield players. If we were prepared to remain in the Championship for a few seasons to rebuild with foreign players before returning to the PL. But the club is desperate to bounce back first time. Therefore KM and MA need a new mix of players to strengthen again. A difficult summer for decisions.

0

flykickingbybgunn added 13:46 - May 12 Are we really that desperate that we need to squeeze a few thousands fee for Marcus ? He is unlikely to play for us again. Let him go with our blessing and many thanks.
2

Jugsy added 14:43 - May 12 flyingkickbygunn - I imagine FFP dictates the need to take fees, no matter how small.
8

Linkboy13 added 14:58 - May 12 Good player at a certain level but we need to look at players who have the potential to maybe perform at Premier league level in the future.
4

planetblue_2011 added 16:15 - May 12 He’s a good player Harness, I was very happy when we signed him in league one. Can do a job championship for as well. I’d think Derby could sign him permanently. I’d be even more happy with Enciso coming on season loan :-)
2

blues1 added 16:45 - May 12 Flykickingbybgunn. Its strange how fans change their narrative. Only a few seasons ago, fans were moaning about us letting players contracts run down and losing them for nothing. Now, here you are, suggesting thats what we should do with Harness. Makes no more sense to do that now, than it did previously. Plus, every penny we can get in, in fees for players leaving, helps us with the ffp, when signing new players.

3

Linkboy13 added 16:55 - May 12 Would luv to sign Encisco again next season but realistically can't see him taking a backward step into the championship. If he hadn't been playing Saturday our attacking options would have been virtually nil some of his link up play with Morsy was a joy to watch. If he is to be a regular in the Premier league with Brighton his decision making has to be better releasing the ball earlier at times. He has great potential that you can't teach and most of his faults can be rectified over time. If we were to sign him permanently and it's highly unlikely please no more call back clauses Mr Ashdon.

2

marshland added 17:28 - May 12 I would love to know what the Ashton/McKenna plans are for recruiting next year. We will have a parachute payment some of which will go on final payments for transfers last year and some on other expenses but will surely leave a sizeable war chest. Do we do what we have done in the past ie buy a number of young players with a championship pedigree with the hope of coaching them to PL level or a few players that we know will be of reasonable PL class and excel in the Championship? Marcus is well known to McKenna and did a good job for us at Championship level and is part of the band of brothers that took us from L1 to the PL so if we do end up keeping him I am sure that he will be effective in at least a substitute role next season. The recruitment decision on several promising players or a few good ones will probably dictate whether Marcus stays or goes.

1

armchaircritic59 added 17:58 - May 12 I will say this about Julio Enciso (not the main topic of this article I know, but its sparked a JE debate). For someone on loan from a just above mid table Premier League side to a now already relegated one, you cannot fault his attitude. Would be easy for him to just cruise, see the dregs of the season out and just leave. Instead he chooses to be one of our more inspirational players, including trying to whip up the crowd. Could be playing for his future somewhat of course, but he doesn't strike me that way. Just someone who's very enthusiastic for the game he loves and can only improve. I can only imagine what he'd do in the Championship, unfortunately I think it rather more unlikely than likely, that we'll find out, but hope remains eternal!

7

virginblue added 18:07 - May 12 The only way we have a sizeable war chest for the summer is if we sell 3 players.
-1

flykickingbybgunn added 19:21 - May 12 Blues1. I have not changed my narative. Others might have. I think it's important that we be seen to be doing the right thing by our players. That sort of thing will work in our favour when it comes to future recruitment.
0

bluebullet29l added 20:02 - May 12 Bye bye harness....maybe you could go to colchester utd..
-5

Essexnblue added 20:48 - May 12 Talk about Enciso coming to us is a complete fantasy as his wages and ambition will be to much for us in the Championship. However Sarmiento enters the last year of his contract and from what I saw at Burnley he has improved, he is a viable option.
3

PortmanTerrorist added 20:55 - May 12 Harness is a fantastic human being who did not look out of his depth in his brief Premier League cameo, compared to some of our new recruits! Hugely versatile, knows our ways, and would be a squad asset next season unless we recruit exceptionally well. People forget quickly but never let us down.
2

BangaloreBlues added 08:59 - May 13 He's deserved a chance to play more minutes and did so at Derby. He has been an excellent impact player for us coming off the bench. Depending on how the squad is rearranged, I don't see any reason for him to go. I think it depends on him and what he wants - he knows he might be a sub most of the time with us.
0

WestSussexBlue added 11:30 - May 13 Good player, did a lot better for us than I thought cheeky would, our ambitions are higher now however. Best of Luck Marcus, wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to Portsmouth.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls