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Derby midfielder George Evans credits Frank Lampard with helping him overcome injury

George Evans of Derby County during the Carabao Cup First Round match between Oldham Athletic and Derby County at Boundary Park on August 14, 2018 ...
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The 23-year-old summer signing from Reading was sidelined for months but the Rams boss’ advice has got him back on track.

George Evans of Derby County passes a ball ahead of Christopher O'Grady of Oldham Athletic during the Carabao Cup First Round match between Oldham Athletic and Derby County at Boundary...

Derby County midfielder George Evans has credited manager Frank Lampard with helping him overcome his injury troubles.

The 23-year-old joined from Reading in the summer but has been limited to two appearances in all competitions.

Following his Rams debut in the Carabao Cup trip to Oldham in August, he was forced off in the first half of the Championship clash with Ipswich a week later.

Evans has not made a single first-team appearance since, having been troubled by a knee injury and then a hip issue.

He has since stepped up his comeback from injury, however, playing 69 minutes in a Under-23s win over Arsenal, according to Transfermarkt.

Evans has spoken of his rehabilitation and said Lampard urged him not to rush his recovery in a bid to get back to full fitness rather than risk breaking down again, as he suggested he already has done.

A dejeted George Evans of Derby County leaves the field through injury during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Ipswich Town at Pride Park Stadium on August 21, 2018...

“I spoke to the gaffer (about getting minutes), and he said ‘look, just get these things right’ because obviously he wants me 100% fit,” Evans told Derby’s channel Rams TV.

“It doesn’t help anyone If I start forcing myself back too soon and maybe when I came back I was trying to do a bit extra and do a bit of catch up, and just got a little tear in my quad. Luckily that is all over now.”

Should Evans be drafted straight back into first-team contention, he could return to arguably Derby’s most intense fixture – the East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest.

George Evans of Derby County during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Ipswich Town at Pride Park Stadium on August 21, 2018 in Derby, England.