Derby County find themselves in a healthy position in the Championship table heading into the second international break of the season.
Derby’s 2-0 win over QPR on Saturday saw them move up to 12th in the Championship with four wins and five losses from their opening games.
The Rams have made Pride Park a fortress, keeping an impressive four clean sheets, and only conceding three goals in the controversial defeat to Norwich City.
A number of players have contributed to their solid start following promotion, with three emerging as Paul Warne’s best performers so far in 2024/25.
Kenzo Goudmijn has been excellent for Derby
Signed for a bargain £600,000 from Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar, midfielder Kenzo Goudmijn arrived as a relatively unknown quantity at Derby.
But the 22-year-old has taken no time to impress the Rams faithful with his exceptional midfield performances, namely his incredible passing range and eye for goal.
Goudmijn has stood out as a player who performs well even with Warne’s men have struggled in matches; oozing class and skill in possession of the ball.
The Dutch maestro is vital in the build-up phase of attacks as he’s capable of breaking lines with his passing and arriving late in the box, scoring twice so far.
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Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
Following the release of Joe Wildsmith, the keeper who kept 20 clean sheets in League One, Derby knew replacing him would be vital.
So, when Jacob Widell Zetterstrom arrived in August, many were hoping he would be a top-quality keeper and an adequate replacement for Wildsmith.
Zetterstrom hasn’t just replaced the 28-year-old, he’s completely blown him out of the water with some outstanding performances.
Conceding at a rate of just 1.1 goals per game and making 15 saves from inside the box, as per Sofascore, the Swedish giant has showcased his excellent shot-stopping and exhumed aura between the sticks.
Zetterstrom earns his place in the top three of this list and will play a pivotal role in Derby surviving this season.
Curtis Nelson
Curtis Nelson was a colossal figure alongside Eiran Cashin as Derby earned promotion to the Championship last season and the towering defender has continued his fine form.
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The Englishman is a towering presence in defence and going forward, with the 31-year-old contributing to the Rams’ excellent set-piece record, scoring in the defeat to Blackburn and Saturday’s win over QPR.
Warne lauded Nelson as an ‘unbelievable’ performer against QPR as his bullet header put the hosts in front and helped them on their way to a fourth home win.
In the battle for Championship survival, Nelson’s exceptional partnership with Cashin gives Warne’s side the platform to avoid relegation.