Frank Lampard’s departure from Derby County has left a bigger hole within the football club than perhaps was first thought.

For all of Phillip Cocu’s professionalism, knowledge and experience, some Derby fans are already missing everything that Lampard brought to the club off the pitch, which was actually quite irreplaceable.

Chelsea loans, passion and an unbelievable connection to the supporters have been missed by many fans at Pride Park, who are yet to see the best from Cocu or his team.

The club are going through their sixth “transitional re-building season” in a row. Stability has been lacking at Derby for nearly a century now; granted it hasn’t always been their fault. For him to win favour, Cocu needs to ride out this tough start to the season and come out the other end all the better for some much-needed victories.

In this tough start to the season, the Rams are yet to play well in a single game. Perhaps their best performance came against West Bromwich Albion and, even then, they fell victim to a late penalty which levelled the score.

Above all though, Derby are yet to be at their best because of one quite simple and obvious reason: They haven’t been able to find sufficient replacement for all three of their Premier League loans last season...

Fikayo Tomori to Matt Clarke

Tomori was instantly embraced into the arms and hearts of everyone at Derby, exemplified by his Player of the Year award from last season. The partnership he formed with captain Richard Keogh was formidable at times during their last campaign.

After an impressive debut, Clarke is yet to have the same impact. In their last seven fixtures, across all competitions this season, Derby have only managed to keep two clean sheets but have conceded nine goals demonstrating they have undoubtedly missed Tomori. His pace was incredible for a central defender - an attribute which saved Derby time after time last season; this vital attribute has now vanished. Clarke is much slower than the Chelsea player and he has a long way to go if he is to match what the Player of the Year produced in his debut season in the Championship.

Harry Wilson to Jamie Paterson  

Wilson is Premier League ready as he has already proven, scoring two goals in three matches in the top division on loan at Bournemouth. One of which was the same ridiculous free kick-taking technique Derby saw so much of last season.

He was their top scorer last season with 15 goals and was the master of changing the game in one spectacular moment. Patterson cannot do the same. In fact, since his arrival, he has struggled to maintain a place in the starting 11. Without a goal or assist since his arrival, the “I don’t like Derby” comment last season and his history with arch-rivals Nottingham Forest, it is fair to say the fans haven’t taken too fondly to the Bristol City loanee.

Mason Mount to Kieran Dowell

Mount is now Chelsea’s starting attacking-midfielder and has, like Wilson, already managed two goals in the Premier League. He oozed quality at Derby and was the mastermind pulling the strings in their infamous 4-2 victory away at Elland Road in the play-off semi-final.

With 11 goals and five assists last season, Derby had found a gem within the Chelsea ranks. Not since Will Hughes had Derby supporters been so in love with their attacking midfielder. Now, though, they have Dowell who – in Derby’s last home match against West Brom - was being called to be substituted by many watching home supporters.

On loan from Everton, there was a heavy amount of optimism brought in with Dowell. The midfielder has a Championship promotion on his record but hasn’t yet shown half the quality he showed at Sheffield United last season. He is, though, playing in a much more advanced role which, so far, really hasn’t seemed to suit him.

With just one assist so far this season, Dowell’s performances have been underwhelming to say the least.

So far, Derby replacements haven’t proved their efficiency. To replace the three players of last season was always going to be an immense challenge. Of course, we are only five games into the season and these players will need time to adjust under the new manager.