Rob Hulse is finally getting back to his best - after recovering from the horrific injury that threatened to end his career.

Derby striker Hulse is the Championship Powerade Player of the Month for October after firing in four goals.

Hulse, 29, is in stunning form and has played a big part in lifting Paul Jewell's Rams towards the Play-Offs places.

It is only 18 months since Hulse feared he could be forced to quit the game.

He suffered a double fracture of the leg playing for old club Sheffield United at Chelsea last March - and did not return for nine months.

But now Hulse, who moved to Pride Park for £1.75million in the summer, is spearheading a push towards promotion from the Championship to erase the memories of his darkest days.

He said: "I've missed a lot of football over the past couple of years, but now I feel like I'm getting back to somewhere near where I was.

"I feel a lot sharper in training and back to normal, really. I'm finding my feet and, hopefully, the team can keep making chances and I can keep scoring.

"I knew it would take me a long time to get back because it was a bad injury. I knew I had to keep working hard.

"October was a good month for me, but more importantly it was a good month for the team.

"Really, this is not just an award for me. It is a reward for us all, and how well we did last month.

"This division is about grinding out results, and you can only do that as a team. It is a hard division, a real slog. There are a lot of games, and they come thick and fast.

"We have a good squad and we will need everybody throughout the season."

Hulse, who played for hometown club Crewe Alexandra, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United, has hit five League goals in 14 outings for the Rams this season.

Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Barnsley were shortlisted.