Derby County’s Under-21s will begin their 2022/23 Premier League 2 - Division 2 season on Friday night against Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium.
The Under-21s will host Leeds to get their new campaign underway (7pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Team News...
Derby’s
Under-21s has seen three new signings through the door this summer in the form
of Chelsea forward George Nunn, Stourbridge defender Demico Burton and Hastings
United’s Jack Bates and the trio could make their debuts on Friday evening.
Rhys Brailsford, Olamide Ibrahim, Cian Kelly Caprani and Alfie Roberts have all stepped up from the Under-18s squad to join the Under-21s on a permanent basis.
Defender Max Bardell (hamstring) and midfield pair Courtney Clarke (foot) and Connor Dixon (hamstring) are still working their way back to fitness after suffering injuries towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign. Defender Harrison Solomon is also out injured but is stepping up his workload.
New Season - New Start...
The new season will see Derby County’s Under-21s competing in Premier League 2 - Division 2 for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.
Pat Lyons’ side are back in the second tier of Premier League 2 following a six-season stay in the top division.
A new season means a fresh opportunity for the Rams’ youngsters to impress and catch the eye as they look to make the step up to senior level.
Derby’s Under-21s will play most of their home matches at Loughborough University Stadium once more, although a handful of matches will take place at Pride Park Stadium and Moor Farm Training Ground.
Following Friday's game against Leeds on home turf, the Under-21s' first away trip will see them head north to Middlesbrough on Friday 12th August.
A local derby encounter with Nottingham Forest is also on the fixture list this season, with the Rams hosting the Reds at Pride Park Stadium on Monday 10th October. The return fixture at the City Ground will take place on Friday 27th January 2022.
The Under-21s’ league programme will conclude with a home encounter against Newcastle United on Monday 24th April.
There are also no league matches scheduled from early November until early January, with Premier League Cup fixtures scheduled to be played during this time.
To view the Under-21s' full 2022/23 fixture list, please click here.
Pre-Match Interview...
In the lead-up to Friday evening's season-opener, Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Pat Lyons spoke to RamsTV to discuss the latest news from the Under-21s camp.
Live Stream...
RamsTV is unable to stream the game live owing to a Premier League match taking place on Friday night.
Full match highlights from the Premier League 2 - Division 2 clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the match.
Ticket Information...
Supporters can come down to Pride Park Stadium and watch the match for FREE.
Admission is FREE for all supporters and entry will be via the East Stand turnstiles, which will open at 6pm, and no tickets will be required in advance to gain entry.
The match will not be available to be streamed on RamsTV under Premier League guidelines, so being at Pride Park Stadium in person is the only way to see the Under-21s in action on the night.
For
any further information, please contact the Ticket Office in person at
Pride Park Stadium during normal opening hours, by calling 0871 472 1884
(option 1) * or by emailing Ticket.Office@dcfc.co.uk.
* 0871 numbers are charged at 13p per minute plus your mobile phone provider access charge.