David Ozoh impressed Paul Warne on his first start for Derby County on Saturday, presenting his temporary manager with a tactical challenge. After making his debut off the bench against Chesterfield earlier in the week, Ozoh started against Shrewsbury Town and played a solid 70 minutes.
The Crystal Palace loanee made way for Ebou Adams, but Ozoh’s performance, despite the team’s defeat, showcased his potential. At just 19, the imposing midfielder demonstrated his physicality and ability to win the ball, along with glimpses of his ball-carrying and passing skills.
Ozoh’s presence adds an intriguing element to Derby’s newly revamped midfield, which includes newcomers Ben Osborn and Kenzo Goudmijn from AZ Alkmaar, alongside the returning Adams. Warne acknowledged the young midfielder’s promising start and his role in the squad’s dynamic.
“He’s a strong kid and good at winning the ball back,” Warne said. “He moved the ball well, made some mistakes, but everyone does. He added a bit of bite to our midfield. He’s a calming influence and has played 10-12 Premier League games, which shows he can be trusted with the ball. He’s eager to improve, and I hope his performances will meet our expectations.”
Warne also noted the similarity between Ozoh and Adams, saying, “Ebou comes on and it’s like for like. I have decisions to make, but the first XI won’t always play together for the next 45 games. We’ll need to tweak things constantly, especially with the physical demands of the Championship. I’m looking forward to working with these players.”
In addition, Warne expects several absentees from Saturday’s game to return to training soon. Sonny Bradley, who had a minor hamstring issue, is set to resume training, along with youngster Dajaune Brown and Tyrese Fornah. The only senior player out for an extended period is Jake Rooney.
“Bradley will be training Monday,” Warne said. “He tweaked his hamstring midweek, but he, Brown, and Fornah are expected to join training. With nearly everyone fit, we need to get more out of the players, my coaches, and myself. We’ve had back-to-back defeats, which is a trend we need to reverse.”