Derby County have suffered a significant setback ahead of their upcoming match against Sheffield United, as young midfielder David Ozoh has been ruled out of the trip to Bramall Lane.

The Crystal Palace loanee, who joined Derby after their promotion from League One and has impressed at Pride Park, was injured during the Rams’ recent win over Cardiff City.

Ozoh was substituted just five minutes into the second half and underwent a scan today, leaving manager Paul Warne anxiously awaiting the results. “He’s feeling a bit low, bless him,” Warne said.

“I’m not sure if he’s had a hamstring injury before, but he definitely felt it.”

“But we’re still unsure of the severity. It could be just a couple of weeks with a minor twinge, or it could stretch to eight or even 12 weeks. Fortunately, we have a strong medical team, so we’ll work on getting him back as soon as possible.”

Ozoh was replaced by former Sheffield United player Ben Osborn, who rejoined his boyhood club earlier in the summer following United’s surprising reversal of their initial decision to extend his stay at Bramall Lane. Osborn now looks set to face his former team this weekend. Meanwhile, Derby defender Callum Elder has reassured fans that the Rams will stick to their game plan in South Yorkshire, following a solid start to their return to the Championship.

“It’s difficult to credit our form to just one thing,” Elder said. “Last season, the goal was to win every match to secure promotion, and we’ve carried that same mentality into the Championship this season. The fans have been incredible, and it’s been a collective effort that everyone can see, with players, supporters, and staff united. Our results reflect our determination to win every game, whether at home or away, and we’re looking to build on that momentum.”