Derby County's season has soured somewhat over the last couple of weeks with a winless run coupled with a big weekend loss increasing the pressure on Phillip Cocu.

The Rams have not won since the opening weekend of the season and were hammered 3-0 by local rivals Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, leaving plenty of fans frustrated.

With the transfer window closed for Championship sides, Derby are now unable to strengthen.

But that does not mean they cannot send some of their younger talents out on loan.

And with that in mind, here are TWO players who would benefit from a temporary spell away...

Louie Sibley

The versatile central midfielder was given a starting spot in the Rams' Carabao Cup-tie with arch-rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

It was a move that Philip Cocu received a lot of criticism for but it does show just how highly-rated the 17-year-old is at the club, meaning now could be the perfect time for him to gain regular first-team action.

It could be argued that he is too young but Cocu clearly believes that he is good enough so he is old enough. There is only so much you can learn in an under-23 side, afterall.

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Max Bird

The 18-year-old is in a similar position to Sibley.

Included in the midweek squad as well, coming on in the 83rd minute in place of Graeme Shinnie, he is another one who Cocu obviously rates highly.

But with the likes of Shinnie, Tom Huddlestone, George Evans and Jason Knight, that first-team football that Bird needs to progress could be hard to come by at Pride Park.

So surely a move away for the season would benefit everybody?