3/1 To Win
Derby County’s Under-23s will take a break from their Premier League 2 - Division 1 campaign on Monday when they
head to Norwich City in their first Premier League Cup fixture of the season.
Pat Lyons' Under-23s will face the Canaries at their Lotus Training Centre (12:30pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Premier League Cup Format
Mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League Cup consists of eight four-team groups, with each club playing their opposing teams both home and away.
It's the first Premier League Cup campaign since 2019/20, when the competition was curtailed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it includes Academies from Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Clubs in the third and fourth categories have been competing in qualifiers to join the top-level Academies in the group stage.
Derby County have been drawn in Group C alongside Charlton Athletic, Norwich City and Reading and the full fixture list can be found here.
Team News
Centre-back Eiran Cashin is back from suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences in the 3-2 defeat against Leeds United at the end of August, which forced him to sit out Friday night's 1-0 loss at Everton.
With Jason Knight back in the first-team picture after an early-season ankle injury, midfielder Isaac Hutchinson bolstered the Under-23s' ranks for the game at Everton. The former Southend United player, who has made a handful of first-team appearances this season, could again feature.
Attacking midfielder Malcolm Ebiowei recently joined Derby’s Academy from Scottish champions Rangers and he could make his Under-23s bow against the Canaries. After completing his move south of the border, he played 50 minutes for the Under-18s in their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Derby will be without young winger Tyree Wilson after he suffered a knee injury in the Under-23s’ 2-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last month. The wideman is set for a number of months out of action and is rated as doubtful to feature this side of Christmas.
Summer signings Luke Plange and Courtney Clarke are pushing to start after being on the bench in the 1-0 defeat at Everton on Friday night. Their starts to the season have been hampered by having to isolate under COVID-19 rules.
The Season So Far
Derby's Under-23s have tasted three straight defeats in Premier League 2 - Division 1 in the 2021/22 season so far, but their performances have deserved more.
They began the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Pride Park Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion, before being on the end of a 3-2 scoreline against Leeds United.
Lyons' side returned to action after the two-week international break with a 1-0 loss at Everton on Friday night despite a spirited performance against the Toffees.
Norwich City's Under-23s play in Premier League 2 - Division 2 and have picked up three wins and a defeat from their opening four league fixtures this term.
They started the season with a 3-0 win at Southampton, but were beaten 1-0 by Stoke City in their first home fixture of the campaign.
The Canaries have since responded well with back-to-back wins by claiming a 4-3 success at Sunderland and 4-2 home victory over Aston Villa last time out.
Live Stream & Highlights
RamsTV will not be showing a live stream of the match on Monday afternoon.
Full match highlights from the Premier League Cup clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the game.
