Derby County will be looking to end their winless run on Saturday when they host Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park.
Derby were most recently beaten 2-0 by Sunderland in midweek following narrow defeats against Sheffield United and Norwich City.
The Rams have now collected three wins and five defeats from their eight matches which places them 14th in the division, eight places above this weekend’s opponents, QPR.
The Hoops, managed by the highly-rated Marti Cifuentes, have only won once in the Championship term while going winless their previous five matches in all competitions.
For Paul Warne’s men to remain in the second tier this season, these are the games Derby have to be targeting three points from.
Derby County injury news ahead of Queens Park Rangers
Following their defeat to Sunderland on Tuesday, an injury concern emerged over centre-back Nat Phillips after the Liverpool loanee was substituted in the second half.
Warne has now revealed the reason behind substituting the 27-year-old was down to fatigue due to a lack of match minutes rather than an injury.
Phillips is in contention to start but could lose his place in the starting XI despite a ‘solid’ display in midweek.
While the towering defender is available, multiple first-teamers are currently nursing injuries and will miss the clash.
Forward Tom Barkhuizen currently has a calf injury but isn’t expected to be out much longer. Liam Thompson will miss out with a groin problem and David Ozoh has a hamstring injury, with the 19-year-old expected to return after the international break.
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The only other notable absentee, from what we know, is promising centre-back Jake Rooney, who suffered a knee injury over the summer and was given a four-month recovery time.
Derby County predicted lineup vs QPR
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has arguably been Derby’s most important signing and the goalkeeper will be looking for his fourth clean sheet of the season this weekend.
The Rams switched to a back five in the defeat to Sunderland as they attempted to nullify their threat in wide areas. That, of course, didn’t work and now Warne could return to a four man defence.
Craig Forsyth was rested in midweek but he could come back into the starting XI at left-back alongside Eiran Cashin and Curtis Nelson. That will mean Phillips drops out and Ryan Nyambe could replace Kane Wilson at right-back.
In terms of Warne’s midfield, Derby are currently missing Ozoh’s presence, with Ben Osborn, Ebou Adams and the technically brilliant Kenzo Goudmijn forming a trio once more.
As for the attack, Corey Blackett-Taylor deserves to make his first start of the season, and the ‘magnificent’ Nathaniel Mendez-Laing should assume his role on the left wing with Kayden Jackson replacing Jerry Yates up top.
Derby County (4-3-3): Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Cashin, Nelson, Forsyth; Adams, Osborn, Goudmijn; Blackett-Taylor, Mendez-Laing, Jackson.