Derby County sent four players out on loan to help their development this season with Owen Eames among them

A number of Derby County players have headed out on loan this season in search of regular first-team football, with the opportunity to impress away from Pride Park.

With John Eustace overseeing a competitive squad, Derby have sent four players out on loan to help them gain experience and continue their development.

Their progress will be of interest to the Rams, particularly with the January transfer window approaching and decisions to be made over the make-up of the squad for the second half of the campaign.

Here, we take a closer look at how four Derby players have fared since leaving the club on loan

Dajaune Brown

Dajaune Brown continued his excellent form for Rochdale as he bagged his fourth goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against Grimsby in midweek. The striker dived in to meet a Glenn Middleton cross to put Dale ahead but goals from Kieran Green and Jamie Walker put the visitors ahead.

But Dale rescued a point through veteran striker Iain Henderson to keep Rochdale in mid-table. Brown has been in impressive form of late and is clearly reaping the benefits of a loan move designed to help him get regular first-team football. He has helped Dale acclimatise to life back in the Football League after their promotion last season and he said the team is always striving for improvement.

The striker said: “We had a lot of new players in the building that needed time to gel, I think as time’s gone on, results have come in and we’re playing better as a team.

"We’ve always got a good atmosphere, everyone’s always trying to improve each other and self-develop.

“We’ve got experienced players like geez (Ian Henderson), he helps me personally with striker play, movement, positioning and late runs into the box.

“The goal is to get high up in the table and try for push for something amazing.”

Owen Eames

The midfielder has impressed for Scottish Premier League side Falkirk since his move north of the border in the summer on a season-long loan. He was part of the side that secured a 2-1 win at Hibs at the weekend which has left them fourth from bottom in the table.

Derby are obviously keeping tabs on his progress after academy manager Jamie Smith admitted that the club had numerous clubs interested in him during the summer.

"We had plenty of enquiries because of how well he’s done, and the coverage that we’ve given Owen with the first team, probably since October, November last season," he said.

“And we felt Falkirk, the Scottish Premiership, the history or, most recent history of playing young players, because that’s really important for the loans, some won’t play all the time and have a positive experience, but I think Owen was at the point where he needed senior football, safe to say, started unbelievably well for him.

“The next challenge is can you keep this up and keep hitting the figures, that he needs to hit in terms of goals, assists, he’s out of position, which is outstanding for him anyway. And set himself up ready for when he comes back, he becomes a first team player, which is still the objective for him and us as a football club.”

Cruz Allen

The midfielder saw his loan extended by another month and Halifax boss John McGrath has already said that he would like to keep him for the rest of the season.

Allen scored his first league goal of the season in a win over Solihull Moors and has kept his place in the team. He featured in a 4-1 win over Gateshead in the league and he also secured Halifax's place in the FA Cup first round as they overcame South Shields last weekend.

Allen played 79 minutes of that game before being replaced and the reward for Town was a first-round tie against Cheltenham Town.

Speaking earlier this month about keeping Allen, McGrath said: "Absolutely. We knew the qualities Cruz possesses, and with us losing Arian Allen to Barrow, we brought in Tommy (McDermott) to fill the void.

"We lost Josh Hmami a couple of months ago, and I wanted to replace him with the right person, and that was always going to be Cruz.

"Zak (Gilsenan) being out allows you to have an exceptionally talented and gifted young footballer in Cruz in the building, and I think he's taken his chance really well."

Kenzo Goudmijn

Goudmijn joined Grasshoppers on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent. Last season he was on loan at Go Ahead Eagles, where he made 16 league appearances and struggled to make an impact.

It was hoped a move to Zurich would give him another opportunity to showcase his ability, but his start in Switzerland has been tentative.

He did manage a shot on target in a defeat against Luzern, although he has yet to register an assist or a goal in the league.

After opening his time at Zurich with substitute appearances, Goudmijn did start in a Swiss Super League game against Young Boys BSC and he also started in the 8-0 thrashing of Grenchen in the Swiss Cup. Goudmijn will hope to start again when Zurich face Basel this weekend in the league.