The recent injury blow to David Ozoh has put a dent in what has been a superb start to the season from Derby County.
We are only five games into the 2024/25 campaign but Paul Warne should be thrilled with how his side have started.
Derby County secured promotion back to the Championship after a two-year hiatus in 2023/24 and were expected to struggle in the current campaign.
However, the Derbyshire outfit have been in top form this term, at least when playing at Pride Park.
Derby beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in their first home outing of the season, securing what was a shock three points.
This was followed by a 3-0 thrashing of Bristol City prior to the September international break.
Upon the return of club football this past weekend, Derby beat Cardiff City, moving them up to 8th in the Championship table.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 6 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 7 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | DerbyDerby | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 9 |  LeedsLeeds | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
However, it was not all good news for Warne and co. at the weekend as David Ozoh suffered an injury blow.
David Ozoh injury timeline is devasting for Derby County
The midfielder started in the win over Cardiff on Saturday but Ozoh picked up a hamstring injury and went straight down the tunnel when brought off during the game.
The Crystal Palace loanee has started all five of the Rams’ Championship fixtures this season, scoring in the win over Bristol City.
In turn, losing the 19-year-old for any length of time would be a blow. But the most recent update from Warne is devastating, with Ozoh potentially out for eight-12 weeks, as per Derbyshire Live.
He said: “He (David) is a bit down in the dumps, bless him. I should know this really but I don’t know whether he has had a hamstring injury before.
“He obviously felt it but we don’t know the severity of it yet. He will go for a scan on Monday and it could be a couple of weeks and a twinge or it could be eight or 12 weeks.”
Ben Osborn must now step up for Derby County after David Ozoh blow
With Ozoh at the very least expected to miss this weekend’s away trip to Sheffield United, Warne will need another of his summer signings to step up.
Ben Osborn joined Derby from the aforementioned Sheffield United on a free transfer over the summer.
Osborn was dubbed ‘immense’ for his display in the 1-0 win over Boro midway through August.
However, he then missed the club’s following two league matches through injury.
The 30-year-old returned to the matchday squad this past weekend and played the final 40 minutes after Ozoh was injured.
Kenzo Goudmijn, Ozoh and Ebou Adams have formed an excellent partnership in Derby’s midfield over the last few weeks.
But with Ozoh now very likely a long-term absentee, it is up to Osborn to recapture his early-season form and step up for Warne.
The former Blade certainly has the ability to do so, but replacing Ozoh is a tough task for any player given how well he started 2024/25 for Derby.