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Morley's Musings: Break Over - Now For The Big One!
Monday, 8th Sep 2014 07:36 by Nathan Morley

After a flurry of fixtures to open the season, the International break came like a dramatic pause, because this weekend, it's the big one!

Yes, it’s Nottingham Forest away on Sunday.

Stuart Pearce’s side are riding high at the top of the table and will no doubt be confident of achieving revenge from the extraordinary 5 - 0 Rams win earlier this year (I just had to bring that up here somewhere!!).

The team selection has attracted a lot of talk so far this season. The much-debated ‘Thorne role’ has provided fans with a constant source of cogitation, as well as who should be the wingers and even if Richard Keogh and Jake Buxton are up to scratch in the heart of the defence.

With that debate in full swing - here’s my assessment of who should play against Forest.

So far this season Derby have conceded four goals in seven outings. Captain Keogh has played in all of those games and I’d expect him to continue. It is a question of who should partner him.

Regular Jake Buxton has been struggling with a slight hip problem in recent weeks. It isn’t really known how much that has impacted his performances but it probably hasn’t done him any good. Another player might have sat out a game or two extra (he has missed the two Cup games); it is typical of Bucko to want to carry on.

Vying to take his place is Ryan Shotton, a man that can clearly be deployed in a few different positions, and Zak Whitbread. If Buxton isn’t fully fit, I would go for Whitbread and even if Jake is fully fit, I would still consider it. The defence has a big role to play in this match as they will come head to head with Britt Assombalonga, a huge presence with four goals so far this season.

It is difficult to understand where exactly new loan signing Shotton will fit in yet. However, clearly, he is a tall, strong player that will be useful in the coming months.

In the holding midfield role, it is a toss-up between Omar Mascarell, John Eustace and perhaps even Ryan Shotton or instead another body within the midfield. Eustace’s experience means he gets the nod from me.

In the centre of the park, a blow came in the form of an injury to Jeff Hendrick while Craig Bryson hasn’t started the season in electric form. Despite these issues, Bryson and Hughes would be my two come Sunday.

The starting eleven will certainly include Jamie Ward if he proves his fitness. After limping off while on duty for Northern Ireland - Derby may need to manage without him come Sunday. If available - he is perfect for these kinds of matches and has scored three already this season.

When deciding on a second wide player, a position that has been filled by both Russell and Dawkins at times this season, I would instead hand Jordan Ibe his debut. It is a big, big debut — that’s why I would have given him some game time in the last match from the bench. The youngster will be very eager to impress and would inject plenty of pace, giving Reds full-backs Eric Lichaj and Jack Hunt something to think about.

It is clearly another tough team selection for Steve McClaren and I study it with great interest before kick-off.

My verdict on our starting eleven is as follows; I’m just glad it’s not me making such big calls!

Grant, Christie, Keogh, Whitbread, Forsyth, Eustace, Hughes, Bryson, Ward, Ibe, Martin.

Whatever happens this Sunday - it is unlikely that it will be followed by type of fall out that eventuated after last year’s meeting at the City Ground!

Up The Rams!


For more of Nathan's articles you can read his blog at www.derbycountyfan.com and follow him@NathansRamsBlog on Twitter.




Photo: Action Images



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