Derby County are back in the Championship after a two-year hiatus as the Rams prepare to come up against some of their former players.
Derby were promoted to the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Carlisle United on the final day.
Paul Warne is now preparing his side – who have 12 players out of contract – for an anticipated relegation battle.
The Rams know who most of their opponents will be next season as Portsmouth joined them in the Championship and one of Bolton Wanderers or Oxford United will follow.
Meanwhile, from the Premier League, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town will return to the second tier next season, just a year on from their promotions.
There are plenty of former players who Derby will come up against. Here is a list of five…
Jayden Bogle
Right-back Jayden Bogle graduated through Derby’s famed academy and was promoted to the first-team squad ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.
Bogle made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Oldham Athletic in August 2018 and went on to make 90 appearances for the club with an impressive 16 assists.
Sheffield United then raced to capture the 23-year-old in the summer of 2020 and he has since enjoyed a successful spell at the club, making 33 appearances in the top flight despite the Blades’s disastrous campaign.
United were relegated to the Championship in April after conceding the most goals in Premier League history.
Max Lowe
Lowe has followed the same journey as Bogle after coming through the Derby academy before departing in a double deal worth reportedly £11 million.
Unfortunately, the energetic left-back hasn’t featured as prominently as his teammate and following just nine Premier League appearances this term, will be allowed to depart Bramall Lane upon the expiry of his contract.
Lowe will leave after making 52 appearances in four years and will no doubt have Championship clubs in for him.
Jason Knight
A third player on this list who came through the Rams academy.
Jason Knight – who was lauded a ‘joy to watch’ by Warne – made 166 appearances for Derby before being snapped up by Bristol City last summer.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has shown the Robins were right to sign him as he played in every single one of their Championship matches and even captained the side for nine of them.
Derby will come up against Knight for the first time since his departure next season.
Ryan Allsop
Ryan Allsop was Derby’s starting goalkeeper the last time they were in the Championship and although the Rams were relegated after being deducted 21 points, Wayne Rooney described him as a vital cog in his system.
Allsop has since spent a season at Cardiff City before being snapped up by Hull last summer, where he made 37 appearances in the second tier and kept 10 clean sheets.
Derby will likely come up against their former goalkeeper next season.
Duane Holmes
Diminutive figure Duane Holmes spent three years at Pride Park between 2018 and 2021, featuring 83 times for the club.
After departing for Huddersfield in 2021, the 29-year-old has since enjoyed a productive first campaign at Preston, recording four goals and five assists.
With his contract at the Lilywhites not expiring till 2025, Holmes will likely remain at Deepdale, which means he’ll come up against Warne’s side next season.