Derby County supporters would have spotted one of their first-team stars returning to training on Thursday.
Derby County have entered the international break in a promising position, with Paul Warne’s men well clear of the relegation zone at this early stage.
The Rams ended their three-match winless run on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over QPR as they continued to make Pride Park a fortress.
That win was hugely positive entering the break as it’s quelled any negativity surrounding their start and it also allows them to get their injured players back fit.
Warne revealed that two of his stars, Liam Thompson and Tom Barkhuizen were back in training last week while David Ozoh was expected to return to the pitch this week.
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David Ozoh spotted in Derby County training after injury
Ozoh suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Cardiff City, forcing him on the pitch in the first half.
The 19-year-old has missed the three defeats to Sheffield United, Norwich City and Sunderland along with the win over QPR.
Luckily, Warne’s previous update on the young midfielder held promise of him returning after the international break, and that now looks even more likely.
Derby’s official X account posted an image of Ozoh standing next to Warne on the training pitch on Thursday as the Crystal Palace loanee edges closer to his comeback.
The ‘gifted’ midfielder – as previously dubbed by Patrick Vieira – has been a huge miss for Derby due to his physical presence and stature.
In his first five appearances of the season, the 2005-born midfielder showcased his class alongside the likes of Kenzo Goudmijn, Ben Osborn and Ebou Adams as part of a dynamic trio.
It led to EFL pundit Sam Parkin lauding Ozoh as a ‘big player’, and he couldn’t be closer to the truth, both literally and metaphorically.
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David Ozoh’s Derby County stats show why Paul Warne misses him
Ozoh was the driving force behind Derby’s midfield before his injury, using his strength and power to bully his way past the opposition.
Alongside the creativity of Goudmijn, the pair were building an impressive understanding and that was fundamental in their three home wins.
Scoring his first goal for Derby in a 3-0 victory against Bristol City, Ozoh was excellent on that day and across most of his other appearances, as demonstrated by his statistics.
David Ozoh’s Championship Sofascore statistics at Derby (per game)
- 5 appearances
- 19.2 accurate passes (94%)
- 1.4 interceptions
- 3.8 tackles
- 3.8 balls recovered
- 1.2 Successful dribbles (75%)
- 7 duels won (66%)
A midfield machine and combative presence rolled into one, Warne has missed Ozoh during a recent tough, and he will be excited to have him back after the break.