Cocu Makes Four Changes Ahead Of Preston Clash

Phillip Cocu has made four changes to the starting XI for Derby County’s midweek trip to face Preston North End at Deepdale this afternoon (5pm kick-off).

The Rams will be looking to earn their fifth-straight victory on Wednesday evening after their 2-1 win over Reading on Saturday.

Tom Lawrence scored the opener in that game, before Wayne Rooney’s winner from the penalty spot, but the Welshman received a red card at the end of the game and will begin his three-game suspension tonight. He is replaced by youngster Jason Knight, who has made substitute appearances in both games following the break in the season due to the COVID-19 outbreak. .

Defender Andre Wisdom will also not be involved at Deepdale after he was the victim of an unprovoked assault and robbery at the weekend. He sustained injuries which resulted in him being admitted to hospital and will therefore be replaced by George Evans in defence.

Max Lowe and Duane Holmes will also return to the starting line-up to replace Craig Forsyth and Chris Martin who are both on the bench.

Under-23s striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram could receive his senior debut tonight after being called up to the bench for the first time.

Preston North End: Rudd, Pearson, Davies, Browne, Gallagher (C), Rafferty, Hughes, Huntington, Sinclair, Nugent, Potts

Substitutes: Ripley, Bauer, Fisher, Ledson, Bodin, Harrop, Barkhuizen, Stockey, Maguire

Derby County: Hamer, Waghorn, Clarke, Evans, Holmes, Lowe, Rooney (C), Bogle, Knight, Sibley, Bird

Substitutes: Roos, Forsyth, Shinnie, Jozefzoon, Martin, Davies, Malone, Whittaker, Hector-Ingram