Paul Warne’s damning comments highlight just how much Derby County miss ‘phenomenal’ player

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Derby County slipped to their fifth defeat of the Championship season on Tuesday night after losing 2-0 against Sunderland.

Derby arrived in the contest as firm underdogs having tasted losses in each of their three away games while Sunderland boasted a 100% home record.

The visitors never really looked like altering the narrative either as goals from Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor sent the Black Cats top while the Rams remained in 13th position.

Paul Warne questioned his side’s ability to keep the ball in the final third, as while Kenzo Goudmijn was a standout performer for Derby, they missed an added physical presence to carry possession up the pitch.

• READ MORE: Paul Warne must axe Derby County ace after ‘careless’ Sunderland performance, his replacement is clear

Derby County have seriously missed David Ozoh

Derby captured highly-rated Crystal Palace midfielder David Ozoh on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old was brought in to add incredible strength and physicality to the Rams midfield.

Ozoh did admit that the start of his Derby career was ‘tough’ but after getting used to his new surroundings, he’s flourished in the heart of midfield.

Ozoh was named in the Championship Team of the Week after the win over Bristol City at the end of August as he scored his first goal of the season.

And his form was expected to carry on in the coming games however, disaster struck when Ozoh suffered a hamstring injury against Cardiff City and was taken off in the 50th minute.

Warne has since missed the teenager’s ability to carry the ball long distances and win possession back for his team, ranking second in the Championship for tackles won per game (3.8), as per Sofascore.

Meanwhile, some of Warne’s post-match comments from the defeat to Sunderland also demonstrate why the ‘phenomenal’ Ozoh is missed, as he explains how Derby gave the ball away too much in the middle of the pitch.

“We gave the ball away a bit too much for my liking in the middle of the pitch, which we’d worked on to try and avoid doing,” Warne said as per Derby’s official website.

“There’s always going to be mistakes in play, but we gave it away a few too many times and tried doing little flicks.”

• READ MORE: Curtis Davies likes the look of one Derby County signing, it’s not Kenzo Goudmijn

When David Ozoh will return from injury for Derby County

Ahead of Derby’s encounter with Sheffield United nearly two weeks ago, Warne confirmed that Ozoh would miss five to six weeks through injury, estimating that to be around five matches.

The Rams have already played three matches since that update, including defeats to the Blades, Norwich City and Sunderland, with the Palace loanee anticipating a return after the break.

Following the home clash against QPR on Saturday, the second international break of the season starts, with Derby travelling to Millwall in their first game back on October 19th.

Warne’s men then head south to Oxford on Tuesday 22nd before hosting Hull City on Saturday 26th, with Ozoh perhaps targeting a return for that match, or against Stoke City a week later.

Supporters who enjoyed watching the midfield powerhouse for his first five appearances will be excited for him to come back, as he’s been desperately missed in the last three defeats.