Derby County have enjoyed a positive start to their return to the Championship.
The Rams sit tenth after claiming wins over Middlesbrough and Bristol City, while they held their own against Watford and Blackburn Rovers.
Derby County have a whole new-look midfield this season, with David Ozoh, Ebou Adams, Kenzo Goudmijn and Ben Osborn all receiving high praise in the opening month.
The Midlands outfit have also recruited a number of new attackers. However, their defence remains relatively undisturbed.
Derby have now signed Nat Phillips on loan, but the backline that have kept two clean sheets was the same that impressed in League One.
Callum Elder has started all four games after managing only eight last season, suffering multiple injuries over the course of the 2023/24 campaign.
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Callum Elder has had an underrated start to the season
The left-back hasn’t been a name that has hit the headlines in recent weeks, but journalist Leigh Curtis believes he has been ‘terrific’ so far.
Writing for Derbyshire Live, Curtis said: “This season he has looked like the player Derby hoped they were getting when they handed him a three-year contract following his departure from Hull City.
“His energy levels have been terrific, he has ably supported the attack and his performances have largely dipped under the radar since the season began. But he deserves his moment in the spotlight with the former Leicester City man providing the attacking impetus from full-back.
“But it’s not all about what he does going forward. His defensive nous has been evident particularly in the first two home games of the season in which Derby have kept two clean sheets.
“He is aggressive in his forward runs and he has started the season in style. That’s been good to see because he needed good opening to the campaign after the trials and tribulations he experienced last term. It’s been good to see.”
Derby County’s League One defence is impressing in the Championship
Last week’s win over Bristol City saw Elder rack up 94% pass accuracy, two headers, two tackles and a whopping nine clearances – more than any other player on the pitch.
Following Louie Sibley’s exit, the 29-year-old’s only real competition is Craig Forsyth, who turns 36 years old.
He has little pressure on his position but his stellar start to the season is likely giving Paul Warne a lot less to think about when putting his team together.
Despite being made up of players from League One, the Rams’ defence has done fairly well in their opening fixtures.
It would be surprising if Phillips wasn’t arriving as a starter, while it seems unlikely that it will be Eiran Cashin making way.