Derby County travel to Barnsley aiming to further strengthen their hopes of achieving automatic promotion this season.
Derby are firmly in the mix to reach the Championship this term and it’s matches against their promotion rivals that will define their fate.
Barnsley, who are two places and six points behind the Rams, have lost four of their last five meetings against the visitors and they would love to make it a fifth tomorrow afternoon.
Sadly, Paul Warne was dealt the news that James Collins would be out till April at the earliest, although that news was supplemented by the arrival of Dwight Gayle and the return of Corey Blackett-Taylor.
The winger missed the 1-0 win over Stevenage through injury, but Warne has confirmed that he will be in the squad for the trip to Oakwell.
Aside from Collins, Derby are still without five first-team players, including Tyreece John-Jules, Craig Forsyth, Martyn Waghorn, Conor Washington and Josh Vickers.
Jake Rooney, meanwhile, is still sidelined after suffering a season-ending injury in September’s defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
With the personnel he has to choose from, Warne could revert to his 4-2-3-1 formation after playing 3-4-3 last weekend.
Here is our predicted lineup for the match…
Derby County predicted XI v Barnsley
Joe Wildsmith did lose his place in the Derby squad to Josh Vickers for six matches at the beginning of 2024, but since he suffered an injury, Wildsmith’s spot as number one is no longer in danger.
If Warne switches to a back four against Barnsley then one centre-back will miss out and that is likely to be Sonny Bradley as Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin have built up an incredible partnership defensively.
Ryan Nyambe’s place at right-back looks secure unless Joe Ward pushes him while Callum Elder has cemented his spot on the other side.
After an uncertain start to his Derby career, the Aussie has put in some solid performances and that warrants his selection.
A switch in formation means midfield maestro Conor Hourihane should come back into the side after missing last weekend’s clash with a knock. Partnering him is Ebou Adams, who has been Warne’s standout player since he arrived at the club in January with supporters now calling for him to be signed permanently.
Max Bird struggled in a deeper role and should be played advanced as that is where he is most effective, operating in between the lines.
On the right, Kane Wilson could keep his place in the side while the returning Blackett-Taylor – who was once lauded as a “constant threat” during his time at Tranmere Rovers – could dislodge Tom Barkhuizen on the left, who didn’t have his best game on Saturday.
That leaves the striker position which is expected to be occupied once more by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, though expect Warne to unleash new signing Gayle from the bench if he is required.