A look ahead to the Derby game
Town return to action following the international break by welcoming Derby County to the Stadium on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Town recorded their first point on the road at Ipswich before the break courtesy of James Vaughan’s equaliser, and could have won it had it not been for Scott Loach’s excellent save to deny Vaughan from the spot.
After a slow start to the season Derby got their season up and running with a 5-1 thumping of Watford last time out.
Officials
Trevor Kettle
Paul Marsden and Kevin Mattocks
Alan Clayton
Derby’s latest results
Watford (Championship) 5-1 (W)
Wolves (Championship) 1-1 (D)
Bolton (Championship) 2-0 (L)
Sheffield Wednesday (Championship) 2-2 (D)
Scunthorpe (Championship) 5-5 (D)
Town’s Team news
Sean Scannell, Joel Lynch and Oscar Gobern are all doubts ahead of the clash, whereas Paul Dixon and Oliver Norwood returned to training on Thursday following their international exploits and are available for selection.
Derby Team news
Paul Coutts remains doubtful for the game with a virus, which could open the door for former Northampton midfielder Michael Jacobs to deputise.
Elsewhere, Mason Bennett is sidelined as is club captain and central defender Shaun Barker who is currently recovering from a long standing injury.
Midfielder James Baily and defender Gareth Roberts are available following knocks while Jake Buxton continues to push for a place.
Derby Manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough was appointed as Manager of Derby County in early January 2009.
Born in Sunderland, Clough joined Nottingham Forest as a player upon leaving school in 1982 and progressed to become a key player for the Reds by the end of the decade.
He helped Forest win the League Cup in 1989 and 1990, played in the 1991 FA Cup final and the 1992 League Cup final before moving to Liverpool in 1993 for £2.75m.
Fourteen England caps had come his way while at the City Ground and he added more than 40 club appearances on Merseyside having settled in to a midfield role.
Manchester City paid £1.5m for his services in the summer of 1996 and he later rejoinder Forest for a short spell on loan, and was briefly at Sheffield Wednesday the following season.
A little over a year later he accepted the role of player-manager at non-league Burton Albion in October 1998. Burton improved their position in each of Clough's early seasons before ultimately taking the club into the Conference in 2002.
In Clough’s first two full seasons at Derby the squad underwent a massive restructure which saw the Club struggle on the field. Derby never looked in danger of relegation but never challenge for promotion on the other hand.
Last season proved to be a turning point for Clough with his side flirting with the Play-off places during the Christmas months. Sadly their standards slipped and they finished the season 12th, 11 points off sixth placed Cardiff.
Derby transfers 2012/13
IN
Michael Jacobs – Northampton – free transfer
Paul Coutts – Preston – signed
Richard Keogh – Coventry – signed
Michael Hoganson – Newcastle – free transfer
Conor Sammon – Wigan – signed, £1.2m
Kieron Freeman – Nottingham Forest – signed
OUT
Paul Green – Leeds United – free transfer
Chris Maguire – Sheffield Wednesday – signed
Jason Shackell – Burnley – signed
Miles Addison – Bournemouth – signed
Steve Davies – Bristol City – free transfer
Lee Croft – Oldham – loan
Callum Ball – Coventry - loan
RELEASED
Ryan Connelly
Chris Jones
Key man – Jeff Hendrick
Hendrick is a Republic of Ireland under-21 international midfielder who has shown impressive steps in his development since turning professional in the summer of 2010 after graduating from Derby County’s Academy.
Injuries handed Hendrick his first-ever career start in August 2011 in Derby's 1-0 win at Blackpool, just days after picking up his first-ever Ireland under-21 cap, and he went on to become a mainstay in the side for the rest of the season.
His first-ever career goal followed a few weeks later in dramatic style with the winner for ten-man Derby at Nottingham Forest, and he registered two further goals in the season.
His fine form in the middle of the park alongside Craig Bryson saw him pick up the Young Player of the Year Award after a consistent campaign which saw him handed a new, long-term contract.
Ticket information
Category B
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