After so many seasons of either Derby or Forest having a genuine traitor in their ranks — Saturday’s clash is likely to have no players for the crowd to jeer because of their past allegiances.

With Derby’s born and bred Nottingham boy Keiron Freeman on loan at Mansfield Town, the closest thing the match will have to a usurper is Forest's Dexter Blackstock but even he is likely to miss with injury.

Blackstock was a loan signing at The Rams in 2005 from Southampton for 9 matches, during which time he scored 3 goals. Dexter was recalled early by then Saints manager George Burley, never to be seen again in Derby Colours - instead he fronted up for our greatest foes in the years that followed.

Despite the fact he has regularly taunted Rams fans through social media and manages to get himself sent off in the most crucial of fixtures, we have discovered footage of his time at Derby in which he lovingly recognises the Rams badge after scoring. As Crosby, Stills and Nash sang; 'Love the one your with!'

Of course Mr. Blackstock is not the only person currently at the City ground seen caressing the Derby badge. It seems a certain person in a position of power at the NFFC was once snapped puckering up to our crest while playing in the Ted McMinn benefit match.

Otherwise it will be the first time in a long time that this fixture has not had a player to despise that bit more, than the players they already despise, simply because they are playing for their greatest of enemies.

Over the years some great names have crossed the great divide and been champions for both, names like Peter Shilton and Alan Hinton spring to mind.

But instead of those genuine champions we all know and love, let’s look back at some of the more recent, not always so loved, double agents - who did the unforgivable and dared to pull on one shirt, only to trade it for the other.

From a Red to a Ram - Nathan Tyson:

Tyson made the move across the A52 in the summer of 2011 after rejecting a contract offer to stay with Nottingham Forest. He wasn't a stranger to scoring in big East Midlands derbies, having scored in a few of these clashes whilst playing in red.

His time at Derby was blighted with injuries, forcing a long wait for a decent performance - let alone a goal. Some Derby fans never forgave him for the flag incident back in 2009.

Just as he finally found fitness and some form, he fell from favour with Clough (amidst claims Nigel ignored him in his final months) and was shipped off to Blackpool. He only managed 10 games for the Seasiders before being loaned to Fleetwood Town and Notts County. This season he is plying his trade for Doncaster where to date - he has played 22 matches, scoring 7 goals.

Unfortunately for Nathan - not much to wave flags about these days.

From a Ram to a Red - Lee Camp:

The Northern Ireland international was a product of Derby’s academy and made over 90 appearances between the sticks as a Rams player. After a few loan spells away from Pride Park and a spell at QPR, he moved to Forest. When on loan at Forest in 2008, he saved a Derby penalty from Nacer Barazite in a controversial 1-1 draw at Pride Park.

He went on to make 182 league appearances for Forest before joining West Brom and then Bournemouth, a move that unfortunately robbed us of a chance of seeing him going head to head with his former Derby team mate, in Lee Grant.

From a Ram to a Red - Robert Earnshaw:

Derby unfortunately wasted £3.5 million on this so called striker back in 2007, having just won promotion to the Premier League. He scored just 2 goals in a Derby shirt and moved to the City Ground in 2008 for a fee of around for £2.65 million.

His only Premier League goal for the Rams came against Arsenal in a 2-6 loss to the Gunners.

His spell at Forest was a much more successful one where he scored 35 goals in 98 matches. Earnshaw moved on to play for Toronto FC but after one season in the MLS before moving to Blackpool for a grand result of one match before signing for Chicago Fire where he currently resides.

A true journey man who has left a trail of fans wishing he had journeyed elsewhere.

From a Red to a Ram - Kris Commons:

Commons was one of the more popular players who made the cross from Red to Ram. He moved to Derby in 2008, after turning down a contract offer from Forest, and that season scored a wonderful goal against The Reds in the FA Cup, to complete a comeback of 2-0 down and win the tie 3-2.

His strike against Manchester United in the League Cup Semi-Finals will live on in the memories of Rams fans for a many a year.

Despite proclaiming his love for Derby, as he did for Forest before us, moved on to play for SPL side Celtic after a move in January 2011. He has notched up an impressive 111 goals in his 209 appearances for the Scottish champs and won various player of the year awards, as part of Celtic’s title winning campaigns.

This season he has been made 24 appearances for 6 goals but various news sites have been reporting contract talks may have broken down with Celtic and a return to the Championship, perhaps to join former manager Neil Lennon at Bolton, may be on the cards.

One player on this list both clubs would most likely welcome back despite bitter break ups.

From a Red to a Ram — Patrick Bamford:

Born and bred in Nottingham, Patrick Bamford ran out for the Rams last season to become another in a long line of turncoats to represent both clubs.

From Nottingham Forest school boy, to their local Academy, Bamford got his start in Red before having the good sense to move on to a proper club in Chelsea.

He made 21 appearances for Derby scoring 8 goals while on loan at Derby last season but despite doing well, it seems as if he and McClaren did not see eye to eye on where he should play and instead of returning to Derby, he ended up at Boro on loan. This of course led to him tearing us to shreds when playing him earlier this season - what else would you expect!

He never knocked one in against the Trees for Derby but when he did score — it was more often than not - a genuine cracker.

So bring on the big match, a contest between two great rivals where any player on the pitch, could be a potential traitor in the years to come!

COYR!!

Photo: Action Images

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