U21s Preview: Nottingham Forest (H)

Derby County’s Under-21s will face East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest at Pride Park Stadium on Monday evening in Premier League 2 - Division 2.

The Under-21s will host the Reds in the first of this season's local derby clashes for Pat Lyons' side (7pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.

Team News...

Striker George Nunn sat out the 2-1 defeat at Norwich City last time out due to concussion but is expected to be back in the matchday squad.

Defender Max Bardell has not featured for the Under-21s this season after suffering a setback in his return to training following hamstring surgery. He is increasing his workload with a view to returning to the fold in the near future.

Midfielder Connor Dixon has also not featured for the Under-21s so far this season following a hamstring injury sustained towards the end of last season, but he is increasing his workload in training with a view to making his comeback.

Defenders Will Grewal-Pollard and Demico Burton and goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes won't be available for Pat Lyons' side after heading out on loan to Belper Town, Stourbridge and Kettering Town respectively.

Under-21s News...

Academy youngster Harry Evans recently penned his first professional contract.

The goalkeeper, who turned 18 earlier this month, has signed a contract that will run until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Local lad Evans joined the Rams’ youth set-up at the age of six and signed up as a scholar in the Academy ahead of last season.

The youngster made seven appearances in the Under-18s’ Premier League - North campaign, while he also stepped up to the Under-21s to play five times in Premier League 2 - Division 1 before the end of the season.

Evans also featured for Pat Lyons’ side in the Premier League Cup and produced some impressive displays between the posts.

He has made three appearances in Premier League 2 - Division 2 this term for the Rams, as well as appearing twice in the Premier League Cup and gaining first-team exposure on a work experience basis with United Counties League Premier Division North side Melton Town.

Pre-Match Views...

Senior Professional Development Phase Coach Pat Lyons caught up with RamsTV to preview the local derby clash.

2022/23 Season So Far...

Derby’s Under-21s are still looking for their first points of the 2022/23 Premier League 2 - Division 2 season after a run of six successive league defeats.

Pat Lyons' side opened the campaign with a 5-2 loss against Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium, while their first away game saw them go down 3-1 at Middlesbrough.

Derby then tasted back-to-back 4-0 defeats to Sunderland and Newcastle United in a challenging start to the campaign, while their last league outing earlier this month saw them go down 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion.

Lyons' went down 2-1 at AFC Bournemouth and drew 1-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers in their opening Premier League Cup group matches at the end of September, before losing 2-1 at Norwich City in their last league outing late last week.

To view the Under-21s' full 2022/23 fixture list, please click here.

Live Stream...

RamsTV is unable to stream the game live owing to a Premier League match taking place on Monday evening.

Full match highlights from the Premier League 2 - Division 2 clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the match.

Ticket Information...

Supporters can come down to Pride Park Stadium and watch the match for FREE.

Admission is FREE for all supporters and entry will be via the East Stand turnstiles, which will open at 6pm, and no tickets will be required in advance to gain entry.

The match will not be available to be streamed on RamsTV under Premier League guidelines, so being at Pride Park Stadium in person is the only way to see the Under-21s in action on the night.

For any further information, please contact the Ticket Office in person at Pride Park Stadium during normal opening hours, by calling 0871 472 1884 (option 1) * or by emailing [email protected].

* 0871 numbers are charged at 13p per minute plus your mobile phone provider access charge.