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Having succeeded Frank Lampard at Derby County, Phillip Cocu has experienced a tough start to life in the Championship.

Despite arriving at Pride Park with a glowing reputation due to the tremendous amount of success he achieved during his time in charge of PSV Eindhoven, the Dutchman has yet to fully adapt to English football.

With the Championship arguably one of the most competitive leagues in the world, the Rams fell victim to its unforgiving nature during the opening weeks of the season.

Although they kicked off the year by beating Huddersfield Town, Derby experienced a drop-off in form which resulted in them picking up just three points from their next five fixtures.

Undeterred by this slump, Cocu has since led the club on a five game unbeaten run in the Championship.

Having won their last two league games, the Rams will be determined to push on over the coming months.

However, they may now have to cope without the presence of Krystian Bielik in the heart of their midfield.

The 21-year-old, who joined the Rams for an undisclosed fee this summer from Arsenal, suffered a muscular injury on Wednesday whilst training with Poland ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifier with Latvia.

Whilst it is not yet certain how long Bielik will be sidelined for, Cocu may find it beneficial to turn to Jason Knight for inspiration if the former Charlton man's issue is serious.

A product of Derby's youth academy, the 18-year-old has impressed on a number of occasions this season since making his debut against Huddersfield.

As well as being extremely confident whilst in possession of the ball, Knight has also demonstrated that he is capable of reading the game in a defensive sense.

An energetic midfielder, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international could prove to be the ideal replacement for Bielik.

Whilst Graeme Shinnie is likely to keep his place in Derby's starting XI for their clash with Charlton Athletic on October 19th after excelling in the heart of midfield against Luton Town last Saturday, he could be accompanied by Knight.

Providing that the teenager is given a sustained run in the Rams' side by Cocu, he may emerge as key player for the club in the not too distant future.

Whilst it is safe to say that he is by no means the finished product, Knight's belief in his own ability could help Derby secure a positive result at The Valley.

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