Derby County closing in on fresh Crystal Palace transfer swoop | OneFootball

The young midfielder spent the previous campaign on loan at Pride Park.

David Ozoh is set to return to Derby County on loan from Crystal Palace this summer.

A highly regarded youngster in the Premier League side's academy system, Ozoh showed glimpses of his talents during his first, and currently only, temporary spell with the Rams last time out.

He joined the club, at the time managed by Paul Warne, last summer on a season-long deal from Palace, beating some of their second-tier competitors to his signatures.

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, Derby are set to bring back the top flight talent on another loan deal. The move is set to be sealed later this week.

David Ozoh set for Derby County return

His first stint with the club was mired by annoyingly frequent fitness issues. Of the 46 matches that Derby played in the Championship last season, the 20-year-old only featured in 10.

What was encouraging about his stay in the East Midlands was that, when he was available, he started 90 per cent of the time and made a huge impression during his limited time on the pitch.

The current boss only got to see Ozoh in action once before he picked up a thigh injury that would end his season. He had to be stretchered off in that one outing under Eustace against Millwall, back in February.

It was described by the former Blackburn Rovers manager as a "big blow to the group," to a player that the new boss could see was a talent in the making.

"He is a fantastic player," said Eustace, via BBC Radio Derby. "In my short period of working with him, you can see he has great qualities."

Now the 45-year-old is set to link up with Ozoh again, with the hope being that he can remain healthy for at least the majority of the next term.

David Ozoh should be welcomed back to Derby with open arms, despite injury history

If Derby can get the midfielder to a state where he can play three-quarters of their games, which would be an admittedly huge jump, their chances of launching up the Championship table would be easily improved.

County's summer window has so far been strong, addressing key issues in their squad, like their lack of goalscoring last season. Of their half-a-dozen additions that they have made in the current window, with Ozoh set to be the seventh, none of them have been in the young Englishman's position.

Even with the Rams' adamant non-sale stance on club captain Ebou Adams, who a number of second-tier sides are supposedly interested in, they will need more depth at the base of midfield. A fit Ozoh would certainly provide that.