Derby County may have wished Chelsea transfer happened sooner in 2014 | OneFootball

The striker joined the Rams on loan in January 2014, and scored eight goals. But a deal earlier in the season may have secured promotion.

Derby County's 2013/14 season is still looked back on incredibly fondly, and after a tough start to the season, the arrival of Steve McClaren inspired the club to their first play-off push in seven years.

The Rams sacked Nigel Clough in September 2013 following defeat to Nottingham Forest, and the former England manager was brought back to the club after a stint as assistant manager in the 1990s. However, few would be prepared for the impact he was going to have.

Despite not being in charge of the East Midlands outfit's home clash with Ipswich Town, he entered the dressing room at half-time with the team 4-1 down to inspire them to a 4-4 draw.

This total football became Derby's calling card, and the addition of the then young Chelsea forward, Patrick Bamford, only helped them in their push for a top six finish. However, many will wonder what if he was signed earlier that season?

Bamford's immediate impact was spectacular

The current Leeds United striker made his debut in black-and-white in a 4-1 defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, but just a week later he scored the only goal of the game as the Rams ran out 1-0 winners at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

He continued to find the back of the net, and added four more goals to his tally in his next five Championship appearances as the Rams attempted to chase down the Foxes and Burnley.

While the goals did start to slow down, Bamford's impact was still on show. He was playing out of position on the wing, with Chris Martin's performances enough to ensure that the then 20-year-old was going to have to wait his turn before being played in a central role.

This was frustrating for him, but he did not let it show in terms of his effort on the pitch. He played his part in Derby's 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in March 2014, picking up two assists in the dominant victory before going on to score three more goals in the league before the season came to an end.

Despite his relative lack of experience in senior football, Bamford proved to be an incredible signing, but he barely played a part in the play-offs and could not help as the Rams were beaten by QPR at Wembley.

Derby may have wished Bamford had joined in the summer

The now 31-year-old joined Chelsea from Nottingham Forest in 2012 and headed out on loan to MK Dons on two separate loan deals.

The second of which came at the start of the 2013/14 season, and he scored 14 goals in League One before he was recalled by the Blues and sent to Pride Park.

While he had spent a very limited amount of time in senior football by this point, it was clear that he had more than enough quality to play in the Championship from the off, and had Derby secured a deal to sign Bamford in the summer of 2013, promotion may have been won.

Nevertheless, the striker's time with the Rams only helped him to become the player he is today, and while the relationship between the two parties has broken down in recent years, he does have a lot to thank the club for.