Derby County play Middlesbrough in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Derby County go up against Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough hopefuls in the Championship on Saturday lunch time.
It’s the Rams’ first league fixture at Pride Park this season and a chance for Paul Warne’s side to get their first points on the board upon their return to the second tier.
On the opening day of the season, Derby County lost 4-2 at Blackburn Rovers, then going on to beat Chesterfield in the Carabao Cup.
Middlesbrough meanwhile have won their opening two games; beating Swansea City 1-0 in the Championship and then thumping Leeds United in the Carabao Cup 3-0.
Ahead of the game at Pride Park, Derby County have completed the signing of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Last month, the Rams agreed a £1.4million deal to sign Zetterstrom from Swedish outfit Djurgardens, though there was a delay in the goalkeeper’s move owing to Djurgardens’ inclusion in the Europa Conference League.
Now though, the 26-year-old shot-stopper has arrived at Derby County, becoming the club’s ninth summer signing.
Will Jacob Widell Zetterstrom play for Derby County vs Middlesbrough
Per journalist Dominic Dietrich, Zetterstrom is thought to have been registered in time to play against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
However, Dietrich also adds that ‘international clearance could delay’ the possibility of Zetterstrom playing for Derby County in the Championship, likely just for the Boro game.
Zetterstrom said his goodbyes at Djurgardens this week before completing his long-anticipated move to the Championship with Derby County.
Another piece of the Derby County puzzle for Paul Warne
Current no.1 Josh Vickers has proved divisive among supporters, so adding a new goalkeeper was crucial for Warne, especially so with that department lacking depth anyway.
It’ll take time for Zetterstrom to settle in. And throwing him in straight away, and against a rampant Middlesbrough side, may not be such a smart move for Warne.
Expect Zetterstrom to watch this one from the stands and soak in the atmosphere and the pace of the English game.
Given the time that it’s taken for this deal to go through, there seems to be a lot of expectation on Zetterstrom to come in and immediately improve the team.
He’s arrived at a difficult time with some Rams fans already thinking that their side are in store for a very difficult season.
A good goalkeeper will certainly improve their chances of survival, but Warne needs more before the August 30th transfer deadline.