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Paul Warne rules Derby County ace out of Sheffield Wednesday clash and explains situation

Derby County manager Paul Warne
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Paul Warne believes it will be another two weeks before David Ozoh is back for Derby County as he ruled the midfielder out of Sunday's game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Ozoh hasn't played since picking up a hamstring problem in the win against Cardiff and then he suffered a quad muscle problem in the final session before he was due to return.

While Ozoh has done some training this week, he is not yet back in full training. Derby is eagerly anticipating his return after the on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder's stellar performances.

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But today head coach Warne said the talented teenager is working his way back but believes he will not be ready for another fortnight.

Asked about Ozoh and his availability for Sunday, Warne said: "No, I don't see that. There is no chance. He did some running earlier in the week and he still wasn't 100 per cent confident.

"While that is the case, you can't fully bring him into the squad training. Without that, he is not going to be anywhere near match-ready. I don't foresee him playing in the next couple of weeks, unfortunately."

Jerry Yates will be back for Derby, however, after the conditions of his loan move from Swansea prevented him from playing in midweek. Jake Rooney, meanwhile, is on the comeback trail with the under-21s but Warne says he is also not quite ready for a return to the first team.

"He is playing tonight and he is fit but hasn't played much in 18 months," he said. "He is close to being involved fully with the first-team squad ready for selection but there are a lot of people he has got to get through. That's the challenge for him."

How big of a loss is David Ozoh? Have your say HERE.