Derby County and Paul Warne look set for significant boost ahead of Millwall: View | OneFootball

The Rams have suffered countless injuries so far in 2024/25, but the October international break has come at the right time.

Derby County's positive opening two months of the 2024/25 campaign has been blighted by injuries.

Throughout their first nine games, the Rams have suffered multiple blows across the pitch to key stars, which has left their bench with extremely limited options - particularly in their most recent fixture against QPR.

Although Paul Warne's side ran out 2-0 winners at Pride Park on Saturday against the Rs, he was forced to feature 18-year-old Freddie Turley on the bench for the first time, while centre-back Nat Phillips came on as a substitute to play in midfield.

Derby were able to pass this challenging test with flying colours and have managed relatively well without some of their guaranteed starters in the last few weeks but there is now seemingly light at the end of the tunnel as the Championship pauses for the second international break of the campaign.

The Rams travel to Millwall on 19 October and while their away form so far this season has been less than impressive, to say the very least, there is reason to believe that the team will be a lot more competitive at The Den than it has been.

Derby are set to be boosted by the return of several players

Kane Wilson was the most recent injured player to return to the line-up after he was forced off against Middlesbrough in just the second game of the campaign, and although the early weeks saw limited numbers of injuries, since the start of September, Derby have been battered by fitness issues.

Ben Osborn, Callum Elder, David Ozoh, Liam Thompson, Tom Barkhuizen and now Tawanda Chirewa have all faced, or are expected to, face time away from the first team.

The Rams have been without both Barkhuizen and Ozoh since their 1-0 win over Cardiff City, while Elder was taken off against Sheffield United with a groin strain.

Former Bladesman, Osborn, has been in and out of the squad with several knocks and Thompson has not featured since Derby's 3-0 win over Bristol City at the end of August.

Nevertheless, there is positive news on the horizon for Warne and the Pride Park faithful, with it looking likely that four of the aforementioned six could be returning relatively soon.

It does not seem as though Ozoh will be available against Millwall, but he is getting closer to being back in contention, while Chirewa is out for the next month or two. There has not been an update as yet on the condition of Elder, but the performances of Craig Forsyth have eased any worries in the left-back department.

Injured players returning can help fix Derby's away form

Derby have been excellent at home in 2024/25, losing just one of their five games at Pride Park and winning the other four. However, on the road they have struggled, and they are the only team in the division to have still not picked up a point away from their own patch.

It can be said that the Rams have flattered to deceive on their travels this season, but they have played sides of real quality. Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, Sunderland, and Watford all currently occupy the top eight of the league, and easier fixtures are on the horizon.

The likes of Elder, Thompson and Ozoh returning from injury soon will help Warne and the rest of the Derby team in their hunt for that elusive first point away from Pride Park, and there is the potential for them to go on a bit of a roll once they do pick up a positive result.

The Rams had a record-breaking away run in 2023/24, winning 13 times on the road as they finished second in League One, and if they can mirror their home performances, then the victories and draws will slowly start to add up.

Players coming back from lengthy spells on the sideline will add more depth, and give the former Rotherham United boss different options to those that he currently has at his disposal, starting with Millwall in just over a week's time.