One Derby County summer signing has improved massively under the guidance of Paul Warne.
The Rams completed some shrewd business during the 2024 summer transfer window.
12 new faces arrived through the door at Pride Park, several of which instantly shone for their new club.
David Ozoh is out injured after picking up a potential hamstring problem this past weekend vs Cardiff City.
But prior to that, the 19-year-old Crystal Palace loanee had cemented himself as a crucial player for Derby County.
Fellow summer addition and the man expected to replace Ozoh in midfield, Ben Osborn, has impressed for Derby as well since his free transfer from Sheffield United.
Elsewhere, there has been a lot of love for Kenzo Goudmijn after his most recent outing for the Derbyshire outfit.
Callum Elder dubbed Goudmijn ‘terrific’ after the 2-0 win over Cardiff, while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing simply called him ‘the magician’.
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Shaun Barker explains how Kenzo Goudmijn has improved at Derby County
Derby signed Goudmijn from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar over the summer for around £800,000.
The 22-year-old was one of four central midfielders to arrive at Pride Park in the most recent transfer window as Paul Warne eyed a completed overhaul of that area.
Goudmijn took a little bit of time to get up to speed in England but has now scored two in his last two Championship fixtures.
After netting on Saturday, ex-Ram Shaun Barker has now explained to Rams TV how Goudmijn has improved under Warne.
He said: “With Goudmijn, we are seeing a different player than I thought we saw in the first couple of games.
“He dillied a little bit in the first couple of games and expected a little bit more time than we are used to.
“We are seeing him now move the ball a little bit quicker.
“We are seeing him still find those wonderful passes and he always looked like the creative in the final third, but he is also doing that little bit out of possession as well.”
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Paul Warne may need Kenzo Goudmijn to step up amid Derby County problem
Goudmijn has operated as the most advanced midfielder for Derby in recent games, leading to a solid goal return.
And while the Dutchman is not particularly well-known for his goalscoring, netting seven in 84 for his previous club, Warne may need his summer addition to continue providing goals from midfield.
Derby wanted to sign another striker this summer as competition for Jerry Yates but failed to do so.
There is now a lot of pressure on the Swansea City loanee to come up with plenty of goals in 2024/25.
However, Yates has failed to get off the mark in his first four outings for the club, suggesting the rest of the Rams’ squad will have to chip in and share that burden.
Goudmijn, along with Kayden Jackson, is the club’s top scorer in the Championship so far this season with two.
If he can continue to produce a goal every other game or so on average, that will no doubt boost Derby’s survival chances massively.