Rams Line-Up Confirmed For Final Pre-Season Friendly

Wayne Rooney has named his Derby County line-up for the side’s final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season.

The Rams will take on National League side Notts County at Meadow Lane this afternoon to round off their pre-season games programme (1pm kick-off).

The Derby boss has named several youngsters in the starting line-up from the club’s Academy in the form of defenders Festy Ebosele, Eiran Cashin and Dylan Williams and midfielder pair Liam Thompson and Isaac Hutchinson.

The quintet have been in and around the first-team squad during pre-season and will have the chance to impress from the first whistle against the Magpies.

Winger Kazmi Jozwiak makes his first start of pre-season after an extended break because of his international commitments with Poland at the UEFA European Championships, while Republic of Ireland Under-21 international midfielder Louie Watson also in the starting line-up after returning from an ankle injury.

There is also a place on the bench for young striker Jack Stretton, who has missed the Rams’ pre-season matches so far with a slight injury.

Full-backs Kornell McDonald and Lee Buchanan miss out due to injury, while Jason Knight (ankle) and Krystian Bielik (knee) remain sidelined.

The free agents that have been with Derby throughout pre-season, both from a training and game perspective, are not involved at Meadow Lane.

Notts County: Slocombe (GK), Cameron (C), Rawlinson, Brindley, Taylor, Kelly-Evans, Francis, Palmer, O’Brien, Roberts, Wootton.

Substitutes: Brooks, Chicksen, McGregor, Nemane, Sam, Hondermarck.

Derby County: Marshall; Ebosele, Cashin, Forsyth (C), Williams; L Thompson, Hutchinson; Jozwiak, Watson, Sibley; Kazim-Richards.

Substitutes: Roos (GK), Byrne, Shinnie, Bird, Lawrence, Stretton.