Derby County notebook: Sheffield United advice, 'unbelievable' Elder and Osborn inspiration

Derby County's Callum Elder (left) has had an excellent start to the season.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Derby County will be aiming for a third straight win in the Championship when they face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this weekend.

After wins over Bristol City and Cardiff, Paul Warne's side go into the game full of confidence following a solid start to the Championship season which has lifted them to eighth in the table.

As part of the build-up, here is the latest Derby notebook which brings you all the gossip and news from around Pride Park as the Rams prepare to try to blunt the Blades.

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Elder praise

Paul Warne has hailed Callum Elder's start to the season and says the 2024/25 version of the full-back is "unbelievable".

Elder has had an excellent start to the campaign and notched up an assist in Derby's 1-0 win over Cardiff at the weekend.

The former Leicester and Hull City full-back suffered a tough first season at the Rams where he made just 26 appearances after signing on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

But Warne has been thrilled with his contribution so far and told Derbyshire Live: "I brought him to the club because I thought he could help us get out of League One but I also had an eye on the fact that if we did get out of League One then could he play in the Champ - he could.

"He knows why I signed him because, massive shock, I like athletes who can get up and down the pitch. If you ask him, every time I hug him I say the 2024/25 Elder is unbelievable and right up there. I am really pleased with him."

Sheffield United tickets sold out

Derby County fans have snapped up their entire allocation of tickets for the Championship clash at Bramall Lane this weekend (3pm).

The Rams will head to Bramall Lane on Saturday 21st September 2024 (3pm kick-off) for their third away fixture of the season in the league.

Derby were handed an allocation of 2,721 tickets for the match and these have now completely sold out. Those fans without a ticket are advised not to make the trip to Sheffield, as they will be unable to gain access to the stadium.

Osborn inspiration

Ben Osborn is not just a quality Championship midfield player but he also has plenty of things going on outside of the game he has served with distinction.

He runs a coaching school and also has a pub named the Lonely Boy Bar in Borrowash. For those who have visited, customers may have picked up on a sign that reads 'this is the place you’ll always be loved when life gets tough'. And that was inspired by a song written by Sheffield United's rehabilitation coach Lee McMahon who is also a musician.

Having been part of the band the Tivoli, McMahon is now launching a solo career with a selection of songs - and Osborn has invited him to perform at his venue. McMahon got to know Osborn during the latter's spell at United and he told SportsBoom: "I love my job in football.

“But I’m also extremely passionate about my music and so when Ozzy told me what he was doing I told him that I’d write something to help celebrate its (Lonely Boy Bar) opening.

“I came up with a song about a guy who did whatever he could to support his family but had just been made redundant and was staring into a middle-aged abyss, worrying about the future but proud that he knew he’d done everything he could to make sure they were looked after.

“The tagline for that one was ‘This is the place you’ll always be loved when life gets tough’ and Ben and his business partner liked it so much they had a neon sign, with those words on them, put up behind the bar itself.”

What have you made of Callum Elder's start to the season? Have your say HERE.