Derby County news: Sammie Szmodics' bold play-off claim, John Eustace's positive transfer update | OneFootball

The latest news surrounding Derby County

We're in the final two weeks of the EFL regular season, and Derby County are right in the mix for the final play-off spot.

John Eustace's side returned to winning ways against a defiant Oxford United side, scrapping down at the bottom of the Championship, at Pride Park on Saturday, and a draw for Hull City at home against Birmingham City helped shave the points gap to just three ahead of the final three.

The Rams have easily been one of the 'best of the rest' in 2026. Of their seven league defeats this calendar year, six of them have been against the eight sides currently sat above them in the table.

That will give them some confidence heading into a run-in which sees them play sides exclusively below them, but away trips to Norwich City and QPR followed by a final day home battle with Sheffield United aren't exactly a walk in the park.

Ahead of what will be a busy final two weeks, here's the latest surrounding Derby County.

"We know we're making the play-offs" — Sammie Szmodics delivers bold top six claim

The race for sixth place looks like it's come down to three teams vying for one play-off spot, and despite Derby sitting outside the top six heading into the final three games, Sammie Szmodics is confident that the Rams can be the side to claim it.

"It was a big three points for us in that play-off push. We're not going anywhere," he told BBC Radio Derby in the aftermath of their 1-0 win over Oxford on Saturday.

"We're in that changing room, we know we're making the play-offs. That's the only thing we're speaking about in that changing room. We know we're making the play-offs, even before this game. People can write us off, other teams can write us off, but we know we're making it.

"We've got so much more to come in these last three games, so many more goals to come. I think defensively, we were top again. The confidence is flying through the team; it's an important win, it's probably one we needed.

"Without putting too much pressure on ourselves, it was a bit of a must-win, and we've got it. We can relax now and look forward to Tuesday night."

With just nine points left to play for, every game will be a must-win between now and May 2 if Derby are to climb above Wrexham and Hull into the top six, so to have the confidence that the Rams clearly have can only be a good sign heading into the run-in.

John Eustace praises team growth and comments on momentum ahead of final three games

Given how impressive Derby have been this season, it's hard to believe that they started the campaign in less than ideal form.

The Rams won just one of their opening 10 Championship games, as the new-look side in John Eustace's first full season in charge at Pride Park underwent a false start to the year. Since then, though, they haven't looked back.

Speaking to Rams TV before the trip to Norwich, Eustace praised how much his squad has come on throughout the campaign.

"When you win games, it breeds confidence," the Derby boss said.

"The progression we have made this season has been magnificent. You can really see the team growing and getting better and better, and although we are losing bodies, we are keeping that level of quality in games, and I'm very pleased with the boys."

Despite the confidence in the squad, as seen in the Szmodics interview, Eustace insists that his side will be taking each game as they come, treating each opponent with respect and showing the professionalism that has gotten them into this position in the first place.

"We want to win every game we play, we prepare properly for every game, and we are always very competitive and give our best," he said.

"Overall, we've been good. Through difficult times and good times, we have stayed professional and level-headed, and that won't change between now and the end of the season."

John Eustace delivers encouraging signs surrounding the future of their loan stars

Derby's successes this season, while not all down to them, have been heavily influenced by loan stars. Jaydon Banal was the hero against Oxford, netting the only goal in the win, but the likes of David Ozoh, Ben Brereton Diaz, Szmodics and Bobby Clark have all been influential players this season.

The latter was nominated for, but lost out on winning, the Championship's Young Player of the Season, with Leicester City's Jordan James pipping Clark to the post. He's currently out with a hamstring problem and will only appear again this season if Derby make it to the play-offs.

Regardless of how this season ends, Rams fans will be hoping that they can retain the likes of Clark and the other loanees past the end of the campaign, as they have been integral to Derby overachieving what many expected of them this year.

"Obviously, I've spoken to all the players. They love playing for Derby, they love being here," Eustace said, per Derbyshire Live.

"From that point of view, I think they'd all love to stay, but everything else is out of our hands."

It was an exciting and busy summer window last season at Pride Park, with numerous players making the switch.

The focus likely this off-season will be keeping the core group together, while adding where possible, and ensuring that the majority of the loanees remain at the club will go a long way to ticking off that first port of call.