a 3–2 home defeat to Barnsley before scoring his 100th league career goal with a 90th-minute penalty in a 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and earning a place in the Championship Team of the Week. Hulse earned his second Team of the Week slot after scoring two goals in a 2–1 win over Coventry City on 7 November 2009 before hitting the winner against relegation rivals Reading on 28 November 2009 to take his tally to six for the season. However, this proved to be his last goal for two months as injury saw him dropped to the bench. The January transfer window saw Hulse again linked with moves away from the club, with Wolverhampton Wanderers interested to the tune of £3 million, but the only concrete moves came in the form of loan bids from Premier League Burnley and Stoke City, both of which were rejected. Hulse reclaimed his place in the team towards the end of January 2010 and scored a 78th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest in the 85th East Midlands derby to end Forest's 19 match unbeaten run. This sparked a run of form for Hulse, who netted three times in his next three matches, scoring the first in a 3–0 win over league leaders Newcastle United and netting a double in a 5–3 victory over Preston North End, taking his tally to 10 for the season. A combination of injuries and Derby's struggling form saw Hulse grab just two more goals before surgery ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. His finishing total of 12 goals saw him finish as Derby's top scorer for the second consecutive campaign. Entering the final year of his contract, and with cost-cutting Derby unwilling to match his current contract, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers both made official enquiries about Hulse, whom Derby valued at £1.5 million. Leeds United also expressed an interest in re-signing Hulse, with Derby coach Gary Crosby stating "As much as we'd like to keep Rob, financially, we will maybe look to sell him." However, CEO Tom Glick later dismissed any financial need to sell the striker. He was later linked with a possible return to the top flight with a £1 million move to newly promoted Blackpool, though his wage was suggested to be a stumbling block. Despite speculation over his future, Hulse played a part in Derby's pre-season fixtures and scored in a