Rams defender Mark O’Brien received a boost this week as he bids to return to first-team action following months on the sidelines.
The 19-year-old damaged his anterior cruciate ligaments in training at the end of December, before undergoing surgery a matter of days later to correct the problem.
O’Brien returned to full training with the Rams in pre-season, after the players arrived back from their summer break at Moor Farm on July 12th.
He stepped up his long-awaited return to match action in the side’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium in July; replacing captain Richard Keogh in the 77th minute to get some much needed minutes under his belt.
However, after such a long period out through injury, O’Brien’s return to training was met by soreness and swelling in the knee, and subsequently the Irishman visited a specialist in London earlier this week.
But after a consultation with the specialist and an injection in his knee, Head Physiotherapist Neil Sullivan confirmed the former Cherry Orchard defender will slowly be reintroduced to first-team training next week.