🎧 Ozoh 'close' to return from injury - Warne

Derby County midfielder David Ozoh is "close" to a return after missing the last two months through injury.

The 19-year-old Crystal Palace loanee last featured for the Rams in mid-September after picking up a hamstring injury.

Ozoh was set to return last month but suffered a setback when a quad muscle issue ruled him out for another four weeks.

"He keeps putting his face in front of mine at the buffet, so he's obviously getting closer," head coach Paul Warne told BBC Radio Derby's Rams Daily podcast in his press conference before Saturday's visit to Preston.

"When they're injured, the first few weeks, they don't want to look at the manager and when they get close, they start doing star jumps in front of the salad bowls.

"I've definitely noticed him more so that means he's obviously close. I've been told that he's going to train next week.

"It's obviously going to take him a little bit of time to catch up. I think the Sheffield Wednesday game will probably come too quick, but the one after [Leeds United on 7 December] possibly not."

Here's what else Warne also said:

• What have you made of Preston? Warne said: "I know how methodical he [Paul Heckingbottom] is and how well the team are coached. I think Preston are similar to virtually every team in the bottom 12 - that you wouldn't be surprised if they went and won three on the spin. I know how tough it's going to be and how much they want to get a home win against us, but in the same way, we're desperate to get back-to-back away wins. So we go into the game as we always do, trying to win it."

• On the benefit of the international break, he added: "Some have got some sun, some have had a city break, which they need because the next eight weeks, it feels like you're in every day. So it's a nice psychological rest and we've had a reasonable week this week."

You can listen to Warne's pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.