Mat Ryan in: The ideal Derby County starting XI v Blackburn Rovers on August 9th | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at how Paul Warne could set-up against Blackburn on the opening day of the season.

The new Championship season will kick off on Friday 9 August, with Paul Warne's Derby County travelling to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers as the Rams look to return to the second tier with a bang.

Two years after relegation, Derby will take to the stage in the Championship with a new-look squad from the one that won promotion on the final day of the League One season.

Max Bird, Ebou Adams and Tyreece John-Jules have all left the club following the expiration of their loans, while seven of the Rams' promotion heroes have exited at the end of their contracts.

Louie Sibley is the most recent player to leave the club, with the academy graduate moving to Oxford United ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

However, Warne has already been active in the transfer market, securing the services of Kayden Jackson, Jerry Yates and boyhood supporter Ben Osborn. Derby's number nine, James Collins, has also signed a new deal that sees him through to next summer.

With pre-season friendlies just around the corner, FLW takes a look at how Derby may line up against Blackburn on the opening night of the season, featuring five more potential signings for the Pride Park faithful to cheer on.

GK - Mathew Ryan

Mathew Ryan, 32, has been linked with a move back to England with the Rams for the last few weeks, according to AZAlerts. The former Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper has spent the last season and a half in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar, after previously playing for F.C. Copenhagen.

The Australian kept 13 clean sheets in 29 Eredivisie appearances, as AZ finished fourth in the table, securing a Europa League place for next season. However, the two parties will part ways this summer with the Rams hoping to secure his services following the release of Joe Wildsmith and Scott Loach.

With a save percentage of 74.3%, and zero errors leading to goals in the league in 2023/24, it is understandable why Warne is keen to capture Ryan. With his experience in top divisions across Europe, he could be a major coup and help Derby retain their solid defensive wall.

RWB - Joe Ward

Joe Ward, 28, joined the Rams from Peterborough United in June 2023, and faced an injury-hit first season at Pride Park. Ward was inspirational in the final few weeks of Derby's promotion push, but once again suffered an injury that saw him end his campaign early.

If he can remain fit, he will be a key asset to the team's attacking output through his sensational crossing and set-piece ability. His defensive attributes may be a cause for concern at times, with rash tackles in the box causing Ward to lose his place in the team in December, but with more time in the role, this can be eased out of his game.

RCB - Ryan Nyambe

Derby's Ryan Nyambe, 26, signed a new contract with the club until the end of 2026/27 at the start of July, and is now looking to return from injury in the same vein of form that earned him his place in the team last season.

With Warne utilising a three defender system at different points throughout last year, it is hard to tell if he will continue with this formation, or if he will revert to four at the back. But, Nyambe offers Derby the option of both, allowing Ward to escape up the wing in attacking situations by playing as a right-back, while also being useful as a centre-back while under pressure.

CB - Curtis Nelson

Curtis Nelson, 31, was named as the Rams' Player of the Season in just his first year at the club last time out, and it was clear to see why.

The dominant centre-back formed a formidable partnership with Eiran Cashin, one that helped Derby to the best defence in the division, conceding just 37 goals in 46 league games in 2023/24.

Nelson won 297 duels, as well as 202 aerial duels in League One for the Rams, breaking down opposition attacks before they could ever materialise, while also pitching in with a couple of goals from corners with his superb heading ability.

The former Cardiff City defender has plenty of second tier experience, which will no doubt be useful.

LCB - Eiran Cashin

One of the best young talents in the EFL, it is hard to believe that Eiran Cashin, 22, only made his senior debut in December 2021 - coming on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney's side against Blackpool.

Since then, he has become the first name on the team-sheet, going from strength to strength and moulding himself into a fan's favourite. Cashin was excellent under Warne as he helped Derby to promotion last season, adding more goals to his game than ever with three.

Despite being linked to Brighton throughout last summer and January, a new contract in February has all but secured the defender's services until 2027 as he looks to keep the Rams in the Championship on their return.

LWB - Ben Osborn

The first confirmed signing of the new season, Ben Osborn, 29, will be hoping to put history behind him after leaving Derby as an 8-year-old before joining rivals Nottingham Forest and going on to score a winner in the East Midlands derby in 2015.

A versatile, experienced footballer, Osborn will add more energy and quality to the Rams' left flank, something that will be key to their survival, particularly during the opening weeks as they look to spring a few surprises on some of the division's usual big-guns.

The departure of Sibley has left a gap for Osborn in the wing-back position, as he hopes to keep his boyhood club away from relegation.

DM - Ebou Adams

One of Derby's biggest targets in this window, Adams, 28, spent the latter half of last season on loan at Pride Park and was a gigantic force in the middle of the park.

Currently with Cardiff City, the Rams are reportedly interested in bringing Adams back to DE24 as per Darren Witcoop, and after winning 135 duels and 66% of his tackles in just 17 games in his half a year with the club previously, it is clear to see why.

CM - Liam Thompson

Liam Thompson, 22, has had an on-off Derby career so far, but, last season was the closest he came to breaking through as a permanent starter in Warne's team.

Injuries meant that his early season form failed to continue, coming back into the team as a bit-part player. However, when given the opportunity, Thompson grasped it with both hands, scoring an equaliser against Oxford before Cashin scored the winner in a superb comeback in December 2023.

2024/25 could be Thompson's breakout year, and with his energy and willingness to press, he is the perfect midfielder to sit in front of the imperious Adams.

CM - Kenzo Goudmijn

At just 22, Kenzo Goudmijn is arguably the most exciting player to have been linked with the Rams so far this summer. The young midfielder has come through the ranks at AZ Alkmaar, while also spending time out on loan with Sparta Rotterdam and Excelsior Rotterdam in the last few years.

According to AZAlerts, Goudmijn is expected to join Derby in the coming days, with the deal now just waiting for a medical before it is completed.

Able to play as both an attacking, defensive and central midfielder, his ability to link up play between the strikers and other midfielders could be crucial towards the Rams' offensive intent in the Championship. His ability to find his teammates is second to none, creating 25 chances in the Eredivisie last season in 26 matches. If this can be recreated in England, then Derby's strikers may just find their own gold mine.

CF - Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

The former Cardiff City man, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 32, was Derby's main threat for the majority of last season, playing across the frontline, scoring 9 goals and picking up 16 assists in 46 League One matches.

It is hard to believe his age at times, with his bursts of pace and skill still unstoppable for opposition defenders to contain. In this system, Mendez-Laing gets the freedom to operate in any position behind the striker, while also allowing him the opportunity to stretch down the wing.

The Guatemalan international created the most chances in the third tier last season with 89, while also completing 62 successful dribbles. He was rewarded with a place in the League One Team of the Season alongside Cashin, and will no doubt be a threat in the Championship from the off against Blackburn.

ST - Jerry Yates

Despite a poor season by his own standards for Swansea City last time out, Jerry Yates, 27, will be looking to hit the ground running for Derby after joining on loan.

Yates will be playing under the guidance of Warne, who managed him while at Rotherham United, and will need a return to his Blackpool form to guarantee his starting spot in the team. However, with his experience at this level, it seems likely that the 5ft 9in striker will be the main man to score the goals to stave off relegation.

The former Blackpool star struggled in his first season in South Wales, failing to get a hold of the ball and run at defenders, but with a more direct style of play at Derby he may find it easier to play his own game.

Nevertheless, he is a hard-working striker, and will help with initiating the press, something that the Rams seemed to lack at points last season. Early goals in the opening games of the new campaign may settle his nerves, and giving him the confidence of starting the first fixture could turn out to be a stroke of genius to get Yates firing from the off.