There’s an interesting sub-plot to tonight’s Carabao Cup First Round tie between Grimsby Town and Derby County.
The Rams will take on the Mariners to fight it out for a place in Round Two of the competition (7:45pm) – but there’s more than that at stake in the Summerfield household.
That’s because Luke Summerfield, the son of Derby’s assistant manager Kevin Summerfield, is part of Russell Slade’s first-team squad at Blundell Park.
The midfielder, 29, came off the bench for the Mariners as they got the new season off to a flying start with a 3-1 victory at Chesterfield on Saturday.
His appearance as a second half substitute, watched by his father in the stands on a scouting mission, was his first for the Mariners since last December after spending the second half of last season on loan at Macclesfield Town.
He began his career at Plymouth Argyle, turning out for the club his father played 139 times for between 1984 and 1990, before going on to play for AFC Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Cheltenham Town, Shrewsbury Town and York City - in addition to Grimsby and Macclesfield.
So, with one Summerfield going up against another, it promises to be an intriguing night at Blundell Park.
Manager Gary Rowett told RamsTV: “Kevin went to watch Grimsby on Saturday at Chesterfield and his lad came off the bench in the second half.
“We’re hoping we might get some inside information but I don’t think they’re talking too much at the moment!”
Summerfield junior featured at Pride Park Stadium last season as Derby ran out 1-0 winners against Grimsby at the same stage of the competition, playing the full 90 minutes as Richard Keogh grabbed the only goal of the game for the Rams.