Derby County supporters can forgive 2015 Nottingham Forest moment with shrewd deal confirmed: View | OneFootball

The new Rams signing has previous at Pride Park, but fans will put that behind them now he is a County player

Paul Warne added to his options ahead of Derby County’s return to the Championship last month, with the signing of versatile midfielder Ben Osborn, upon the 29-year-old’s departure from Sheffield United.

The utility man’s arrival at Pride Park will see the Rams welcome a Derby fan who featured for Nottingham Forest at the start of his career, and left his mark when local rivalries were put on the line.

County fans will be looking to put those memories behind them once he puts the white shirt on in the season to come though, as Warne’s side look to maintain their status as a second tier side following their recent promotion.

With over 300 matches across the top two tiers of English football to his name, Osborn’s nous and experience will be crucial over the course of the upcoming campaign, as he looks to earn his stripes back at the club he loves.

Ben Osborn aiming for Derby County redemption after early Nottingham Forest spell

Having started his career in the ranks at County, Osborn was released at an early age, and then went to train with local rivals Forest, where he soon emerged as a top talent coming through the academy at the City Ground.

After making a handful of appearances during his breakthrough year in the 13/14 campaign, the midfielder began to cement a place in the first-team for the following campaign, as he featured 35 times for the Tricky Trees in the second tier.

The young star couldn’t have wished for a bigger occasion to score his first goal for the club in that breakthrough campaign, as he made his mark on the stadium that he used to visit so frequently as a child, but for the opposing team.

There aren’t many rivalries in British football as fierce as that between Forest and County, and that animosity was reverberating around Pride Park in January 2015, as the two old adversaries did battle.

With Henri Lansbury’s own goal putting the hosts one goal to the good, Rams fans were jubilant, before Osborn’s delivery into the penalty caused havoc with 15 minutes to play, as Britt Assombalonga levelled matters with a poacher’s effort.

The young midfielder then took centre stage as the minutes ticked down, as he sauntered towards the County penalty area, before unleashing a venomous strike to secure all three points for Forest on their enemy’s turf.

But nine years on, Osborn is back at Pride Park, and ready to contribute to a successful season for the Rams in the second tier, with his versatility and experience likely to offer plenty to Warne for the season ahead.

"It excites me" - Ben Osborn claim upon Derby County return

Having finally secured a return to his first ever club, Osborn was evidently delighted when being unveiled as a County player last month.

He said: “I played here when I was really young, got released and went to the other side of the A52 for a number of years but still remained a Derby fan until I started getting close to the Forest first team.

“It all got a little muddled up then! I’ve gone full circle, it’s been emotional but I’m really excited to get going.

"It excites me, massively. I know the club inside out, it’s a huge club with huge potential and if we can get it right here - it will be amazing.

“Paul Warne has been brilliant ever since I got let go by Sheffield United and I think it will be a great place to play my football.

“I don’t think I could have gone anywhere else and had the level of motivation that I’ve got for this one. It ticks a lot of boxes and excites me.”

That passion and motivation will be evident from the second the Rams season gets underway next month, and it won’t take long for County fans to forget what has happened in the past, and welcome one of their own with open arms.

A football club is for life, not just for Christmas, and Osborn is back where he wants to be the most, and both player and club are all set for a top season ahead thanks to an emotional homecoming.