Rooney Names Rams Side To Face Huddersfield

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has picked his starting line-up for this afternoon’s 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship opener against Huddersfield Town (3pm kick-off).

Rooney has named defensive duo Curtis Davies and Richard Stearman in the side after they put pen-to-paper on one-year contracts on Friday morning.

Another new addition to the squad, goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, is on the bench.

There’s a place in the starting line-up for Republic of Ireland Under-21 international midfielder Louie Watson, while forward Tom Lawrence captains the side in a competitive match for the first time.

Derby’s outfield players on the bench include Under-23s quartet Festy Ebosele, Liam Thompson, Eiran Cashin and Isaac Hutchinson and Under-18s full-back Dylan Williams.

Derby County: Roos (GK), Byrne, Stearman, Davies, Forsyth; Shinnie, Bird; Jozwiak, Lawrence (C), Watson, Kazim-Richards.

Substitutes: Allsop (GK), Ebosele, Sibley, Williams, Thompson, Hutchinson, Cashin.

Huddersfield Town: Schofield (GK), Pearson, Hogg (C), Rhodes, High, Thomas, Holmes, Turton, Sarr, Ward, Colwill.

Substitutes: Roxburgh (GK), Vallejo, Koroma, Campbell, Sinani, Brown, Jackson.