Derby County told Crystal Palace, David Ozoh deal gives them potential Championship best on one condition | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County Fan Pundit shares his thoughts on David Ozoh coming back to the Rams

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County re-signing Crystal Palace midfielder David Ozoh on loan hands John Eustace the chance to rekindle a partnership that briefly lit up Pride Park last season.

Ozoh's first stint was cut short by two long-term injuries - limiting him to just ten Championship appearances.

He started nine of those, and managed to score in a Player of the Match performance against Bristol City, which then-manager Paul Warne described as one of his "proudest days" at the club.

The Rams sealed the 20-year-old's second loan spell on Tuesday morning, and Ozoh is the seventh summer signing at the East Midlands outfit - the first to cover the central midfield position.

David Ozoh "one of the best" in the Championship

FLW's resident Ram, Shaun Woodward, shared his thoughts on the arrival of Ozoh, with his brief displays last season making a big impression on him.

"I think if we can get a fit David Ozoh then we’ve got one of the best midfielders in that league," Woodward told FLW.

"He’s big, strong, powerful - strong as an ox - he’s box-to-box, he can score goals, he’s young - he’s got everything that can make a really, really good centre-midfielder and I think, to be fair, if he’d had stayed fit last season we probably wouldn’t be being linked with him again," he added.

Woodward's praise does reflect the high reputation Ozoh earned himself in Palace's academy, where he set a club record as their youngest Premier League debutant ever, at 17 years 7 months.

If it wasn't for his injuries, Woodward said: "He’d probably be looking for a club that’s either top-end Champ or in the Prem, I think he can be that good. So maybe his injuries have actually helped us as it means we’ve got a chance to get him again."

The return of David Ozoh alongside Ebou Adams is near

Eustace has lined Derby up in his preferred 4-2-3-1 for every single one of their pre-season friendlies so far - something the head coach said he'd "love" to do during the club's fan forum in June.

In that earlier-mentioned Bristol City game, the two defensive midfielders that played the full 90 minutes for the Rams were Ozoh and Ebou Adams.

Woodward can't wait to see that pairing back in action again, telling FLW: "So, if he can stay fit - and it’s a big if - then we’ve got one of the best midfielders in that league. Especially a partnership of him and Adams together would be unbelievable, so really excited by this just hope he can stay fit and show us what he’s capable of."

When at Derby for the first time, Paul Warne revealed he was "frustrated" by over Ozoh's absence from the squad, which suggests the midfielder is likely to start when available.

Many Derby fans were somewhat surprised to see Ozoh being linked back to Derby on a loan deal - and now he's been announced, would expect to see at least another centre-midfielder come in due to his injury record.

Ultimately, Woodward hit the nail on the head with his words on the Ozoh loan deal. Derby are gambling on fitness but bringing undeniable talent back to the club.

You'd like to think that the club wouldn't want him back if they knew he'd struggle with injuries again - but in a division that's so competitive, Ozoh has proven before he's someone who can make a difference in games.