With 12 games now under their belt back in the Championship, Derby County are firmly in the midst of being back in the second tier.
Paul Warne’s side have been inconsistent at times, showing some of their best displays at Pride Park while struggling away from home.
In their recent clash with Hull City, the Rams showed several different sides to their play, with a mixture of impressive and indifferent passages.
By full-time though, another invaluable point was handed the way of Derby, thanks to their next big star; Dajaune Brown.
The striker finally announced himself to the home faithful with a goal that could be huge by the end of the Championship campaign.
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Dajaune Brown must start in Derby County trip to Stoke City
In his short cameo in the game, Brown helped Derby on their way towards a big point as he headed home from a set-piece delivery.
It was an impressive finish that looped over the head of the Hull goalkeeper, giving the Rams a way back into the game.
The 19-year-old backed up Warne’s decision not to loan him out this season, having impressed at Gateshead on loan in the second half of the previous campaign, as well as the move to bring him on in the game.
It wasn’t just the goal that helped, with an overall performance that saw Brown winning plenty of headers, taking neat touches away from defenders and being an all-round nuisance for the opposition.
With that in mind, perhaps it’s time for Warne to hand the striker a first start next time out against Stoke City.
Those attributes could be more than useful in an away game, where the Rams have already found it tough to make the ball stick higher up the pitch.
The counterargument may be that he is young and these things progress in steps, but he can’t prove himself unless these chances are given to him.
If he can kick on from there, then there’s no doubt Brown could be the next big Derby star coming from the academy.
Derby County squad key for Championship survival
The reality is that survival would be a successful season for Derby back in the Championship, while anything else is a bonus.
If they are to reach the total to be comfortable in the second tier, then it’s clear that the whole squad will have to play their part.
While the usual forward threats are expected to pick up the majority of goals, those fringe squad players will have to make their impact when the time is right.
In the case of Brown, he has done just that and earned a big point for the side, while there are plenty more up for grabs.
Whether it’s a substitute popping up with a key goal or clearance, a rotation player given a rare outing or an academy prospect handed a first chance, they will all have a role to play.
Whether they can turn that into something more than a cameo is down to them, which Brown will now have the task of proving for himself.