As has almost become predictable now, Derby County found themselves in automatic promotion contention, but couldn't make it count.

After a sluggish start, the Rams found their way into the play-off spots by mid-October and went on to top the league on Boxing Day. However, a winless spell from then until the 20th February cost Paul Clement his job and saw the Rams drop well off the automatic promotion race.

Darren Wassall took over and stabilised the ship, before they eventually lost out to Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.

They go into yet another season with promotion as the only option and, with new manager Nigel Pearson, they have someone who knows how to get out of this league, doing so with Leicester City in 2013/14.

With Will Hughes apparently interesting Manchester United, and George Thorne missing for another couple of months, a few midfield reinforcements might actually be a wise play by the Nottingham-born manager.

Here, FootballLeagueWorld writer Ryan Evans identifies THREE central midfielders that will improve the Derby County starting eleven...

Matty James

Nigel Pearson has already signed this player from Manchester United whilst in the helm at the King Power Stadium, so if this move does come off then he knows what he's buying.

Back at the end of May, the player was linked with a move to the iPro, but so far nothing has come of it.

The 24-year-old missed the entire title-winning campaign with an injury, although it is expected he will be fit by the start of this coming campaign.

In his 99 appearances at the club since signing from the Old Trafford club, James has five goals and 13 assists to his name. He would be an excellent signing to link together Derby's game, and can drop into a holding midfield role when required.

Eunan O'Kane

O'Kane has been on the fringes of the Bournemouth squad in the past couple of years, making 16 appearances for the Cherries in the debut campaign in the top-flight.

He started the season in the side, with nine appearances in the first ten games, but couldn't keep his place nailed down and didn't feature for Eddie Howe's side since the club's 4-0 loss to Manchester City at the start of April.

He is a highly talented player, and has shown enough for Martin O'Neill to play him in four internationals this year, with many feeling he was unlucky not to go to Euro 2016 with the Irish national team.

George Thorne is expected to be out for the months to come, so defensive midfield is perhaps an area that Pearson may want to cover.

O'Kane would fit in well at this level and would bring international and Premier League experience to a team who could do with that to help them escape from the second tier. Also, with the addition of Emmerson Hyndman, O'Kane may want to drop back to the Championship to get regular football.

It may well have to be a loan deal, but the 25-year old would get into most sides in this division.

Tom Cairney

The Fulham midfielder has had a very decent debut campaign, scoring eight and setting up six from his 39 Championship appearances.

Other than Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele, who both had the campaigns of their lives, Cairney was the Cottagers' most influential player.

Kit Symons couldn't get the best out of the ex-Blackburn man, but Slavisa Jokanovic immediately played him in the number ten position after arriving just before the New Year, and reaped the rewards in February after his man was nominated for Championship player of the month.

The victory over West London rivals QPR was an example of his excellent passing ability, and if he and Fulham's new signing Sone Aluko are on the same wavelength, the rest of the league should watch out.

Derby sometimes looked blunt going forward last season, and Cairney will definitely give them the penetration that they need to get into the Premier League.

However, with Dembele leaving for Celtic and plenty of speculation regarding the future of talisman McCormack, Jokanovic is unlikely to want Cairney to go anywhere.

Derby fans... what do you think? Would any of these three signings help you gain promotion to the Premier League? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!