THERE are few better ways to assess the merits of a signing than to gauge the opinions of the fans of the club he is leaving.

So let’s do just that.

While Burnley’s move for Derby County centre back Jason Shackell has brought cautious optimism from many Clarets supporters, the mood has been somewhat different in the East Midlands.

“We’ve lost our best centre back, the best we’ve had in the past three or four years,” one Derby fan said online.

“This is certainly worrying,” another added.

“Shackell is one of the best centre backs in the division.”

It is Derby’s decision to sell only a year after signing Shackell from Barnsley that has caused consternation.

“To me it makes no sense,” insisted another frustrated supporter.

“If you want to move forward, what happens next year if we sign another centre back for say £750,000, who proves to be as good.

“Do we then sell him on again come the summer?”

Now either this was the world’s biggest and most cunning online conspiracy to lull Burnley into signing a dud, or Derby fans rate Shackell very highly.

Given his performances in the Championship in recent seasons, one suspects the latter.

Burnley supporters saw it for themselves in January, when Shackell was part of a Derby defence that secured a frustrating 0-0 draw at Turf Moor.

And Shackell does appear to be exactly what the Clarets badly need.

Eddie Howe has looked to the future by reducing the average age of the Burnley team over the past 12 months, but they have at times lacked enough experience and leadership on the field.

Nowhere is that more important than defence, where the Clarets often operated with the youthful Kieran Trippier, Ben Mee and David Edgar alongside veteran Michael Duff.

Burnley did not always look assured at the back, so Howe has turned to one of the Championship’s steadiest and most dependable defenders.

Shackell has now impressed at Doncaster, Barnsley and Derby in the second tier in the past three seasons so, although there are never any guarantees, on the face of it he does not appear to represent a gamble.

At 6ft 4in tall, the 29-year-old’s aerial ability would also prove a major asset and he is clearly respected.

Derby made him captain towards the end of his first season at the club following a long-term injury to regular skipper Shaun Barker.

What it would mean for last season’s regular centre backs Duff and Edgar remains to be seen.

Edgar is capable of moving to full back if required.

The loss of Jay Rodriguez earlier this summer of course represented a real blow to Burnley’s hopes next season.

But the arrival of Shackell is at least a promising way to start life after Jay Rod.