Manager Wayne Rooney has handed second year scholar Dylan Williams his first professional league start as Derby County face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns in the Sky Bet Championship this evening (8pm kick-off).
Williams, who made his senior league debut against Birmingham City on Friday night, replacing Louie Sibley in the 82nd minute of the Rams’ 2-0 defeat at St Andrews, has impressed the manager and his coaching staff in training since the start of pre-season and has been rewarded for his efforts.
The Academy product, who celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday, started the First and Second Round Carabao Cup ties against Salford City and Sheffield United respectively last month.
Williams is one of three changes for the Rams this evening as they look for a reaction following the loss against the Blues on Friday night in their first match following the international break.
Midfielder Jason Knight makes his first league start of the season after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season training in July, whilst Kamil Jozwiak returns to the starting line-up.
The winger was forced to miss last Friday’s game owing to international duty as he played 80 minutes for Poland in their 1-1 draw against England in Warsaw less than 48 hours previous.
Max Bird, Ravel Morrison and Tom Lawrence reverts to the substitute’s bench, whilst former Albion defender Curtis Davies wears the captain’s armband for the Rams this evening.
West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Townsend, Bartley, Ajayi, Robinson, Livermore, Diangana, Grant, Reach, Mowatt.
Substitutes: Button, Phillips, Molumby, Hugill, Kipre, Snodgrass, Taylor.
Derby County: Roos, Byrne, Shinnie, Jagielka, Jozwiak, Baldock, Sibley, Buchanan, Davies (C), Knight, Williams.
Substitutes: Allsop, Stearman, Bird, Watson, Lawrence, Morrison, Stretton.