almost turned in a low Keith Gillespie cross but Čech raced out to smother his effort and in the collision Hulse's ankle appeared to snap beneath him. After a five-minute delay Hulse was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital with what was thought to be a double fracture. On 20 March, it was confirmed that Hulse had fractured his left leg in two places, for which he underwent surgery. His season over, he still finished up as United's top scorer in the Premier League with eight league goals. Hulse eventually returned to the first team in December 2007 after 9 months out, but despite making 24 appearances for the Blades over the course of that season he was unable to find full fitness and failed to score a goal ending his Blades career on a disappointing note. Derby County Following the end of the 2007–08 season, Hulse was strongly linked with a move away to United's Championship rivals Derby County. The deal was completed on 21 July 2008 for £1.75 million. Five days later he scored on his unofficial debut for the club, a friendly match, against Mansfield Town. Hulse made his competitive debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers on the opening day of the 2008–09 season. His first league goal for Derby was the winner in a 2–1 victory over his former club Sheffield United in September 2008. Hulse's form during October 2008, when he hit four goals in five games, saw him awarded the Championship Player of the Month award. Hulse's goal against Charlton secured Derby's Championship status in the final home game of the season. On the final day of the season, he played 90 minutes in an unfamiliar central defensive position. Hulse won the Derby County Supporters' Player of the Year award, the Players' Player of the Year Trophy and finished the season as the club's top goalscorer, with 15 league goals, and 3 more in the FA Cup. After a successful first season, Hulse was continually linked with a £3 million move to Derby's Championship rivals Middlesbrough. Derby accepted a bid of £4 million on the final day of the 2009 summer transfer Window, but Hulse rejected the move, citing his fondness for club as the reason. Injury disrupted the early part of the season, with Hulse not grabbing his first goal of the season until 15 November in