George Thorne will make his first Derby County league start since May 2016 in today’s Sky Bet Championship home clash with Burton Albion, kick-off: 3pm.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who has been fighting back from a broken leg sustained more than a year ago, has made seven substitute appearances so far this term as well as one start in the Carabao Cup, but will be thrown into the action from the word go today, replacing Tom Huddlestone as one of three changes that have been made by Gary Rowett this afternoon.
Marcus Olsson also comes back into the side at left back, replacing Craig Forsyth, to make his first appearance since the 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham City in September.
There’s a change in personnel up top too, as Chris Martin replaces David Nugent to lead the Rams’ attack.
Bradley Johnson and Sam Winnall also return to the matchday fold after recovering from a hamstring and ankle problem respectively.
The pair take their place on a strong-looking substitutes bench with Rowett having a clean bill of health for the first time this campaign.
The Rams’ visitors contain four former Rams players in their starting XI in Stephen Bywater, John Brayford, Tom Naylor and Jake Buxton, as well as former Academy prospect Matty Palmer.
Shaun Barker, and Stephen Warnock are also named on the bench for Burton.
Derby County: Carson, Baird, Keogh, Davies, Olsson; Thorne, Ledley; Weimann, Vydra, Lawrence; Martin
Substitutes: Mitchell, Russell, Wisdom, Johnson, Winnall, Nugent, Huddlestone
Burton Albion: Bywater, Brayford, Turner, Buxton, Naylor, Flanagan, Murphy, Akins, Palmer, Miller, Sordell
Substitutes: Ripley, Varney, Fox, Sbarra, Barker, Warnock, Akpan
Not in attendance at Pride Park today? Full details of how you can follow all of the action on RamsTV can be found here!