Team News: Cocu Makes One Change For Derby's Clash With Reading

Derby County boss Phillip Cocu has named his starting line-up for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Reading at Pride Park Stadium (1pm kick-off).

Today’s game, once again played behind-closed-doors following a three-month break due in the season due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is Derby's first competitive home fixture since the 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in early March.

Cocu's side will be looking to claim a fourth successive league win when they take on Royals, but they will be well aware of the visitors' qualities after they inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the Rams at the reverse fixture at the Madejski Stadium back in December.

The Derby boss has made one change from last weekend's 3-2 victory over Millwall at The Den with striker Chris Martin coming into the starting XI in place of attacking midfielder Duane Holmes, who reverts to the bench.

There's also a change amongst the substitutes too with experienced midfielder Tom Huddlestone replacing George Evans in the matchday squad.

Last weekend's hat-trick hero Louie Sibley is once again named in the starting XI in an attacking midfield role and willl be looking to add to his impressive return of four goals in his last two outings.

Derby's on-loan goalkeeper Ben Hamer faces the club he began his professional career with back in 2004 and is one of six players in the Rams' starting line-up from December's meeting between the sides.

Reading returned to action last weekend with a 1-1 draw against Stoke City on home turf and have made three changes from that game.

George Puscas starts up front, replacing Lucas Joao who came off against the Potters with a hamstring problem.

Derby County: Hamer, Wisdom, Forsyth, Waghorn, Lawrence, Clarke, Martin, Rooney (C), Bogle, Sibley, Bird.

Substitutes: Roos, Shinnie, Jozefzoon, Holmes, Lowe, Davies, Knight, Huddlestone, Whittaker.

Reading: Rafael, Gunter, Richards, Moore (C), Miazga, Rinomhota, Swift, Ejaria, Olise, Méïté, Puscas.

Substitutes: Walker, Blackett, Morrison, Obita, Baldock, McCleary, Masika, Adam, Pele.

Don’t forget you can see Derby County in action against Reading at Pride Park Stadium LIVE on RamsTV this afternoon. Sign up to RamsTV and purchase your streaming pass here: dcfc.co.uk/page/ramstv.