Derby County head to Blackburn Rovers on Friday night for the first match of the Championship season.
The Rams’ form in pre-season was chequered as they posted defeats against Chesterfield, Barnsley and Shrewsbury but secured victories over Stockport County and most recently, Real Valladolid.
Despite making six new signings – including a return for midfielder Ebou Adams – Derby are expected to be fighting relegation and any finish above 22nd would be classed as a solid season for Paul Warne’s men.
Warne is still looking to do business in the transfer window, as he eyes a first-choice goalkeeper, namely Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, while highlighting the need to strengthen in forward areas.
For their trip to Ewood Park, Derby will be without striker Jerry Yates, who is suspended for the opening three matches while some of his other first-team stars are also out of contention.
Derby County team news ahead of Blackburn
On Monday, it was revealed that winger Corey Blackett-Taylor would miss out on the season opener due to a ‘quad issue’, although the 26-year-old is set to be back on the grass next week.
Fellow winger Joe Ward is in the same boat, with the former Peterborough United man set to be absent from the clash due to fluid in his knee, leaving wide options to be very scarce for Warne’s side.
To make matters worse, on Wednesday it was reported that midfielder Ebou Adams and right-back Ryan Nyambe hadn’t trained for a couple of days but they should still be ready for Friday’s clash.
Missing some key first-team players isn’t ideal for Warne, who would have liked a fully fit squad to select from however, he still has the luxury of choosing to start multiple new signings.
Derby predicted XI vs Blackburn Rovers
Lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, as he did throughout pre-season, Warne will slot Josh Vickers between the sticks against Rovers.
The Rams did sign a third-choice goalkeeper in Johan Luthra, while they’re also waiting on Zetterstrom to sign, leaving Vickers as his only realistic starting option currently.
In pre-season, Warne heavily rotated his back three to give every player the chance and the only guarantees to be starting in defence are Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin, the two stalwarts from last season.
They should be joined by veteran Sonny Bradley, who takes his place in the centre of the back three with Nelson and Cashin on either side.
With Warne using wing-backs, Kane Wilson should get the nod over Ryan Nyambe on the right while Ben Osborn’s energy and dynamism earn him a spot on the left. That leaves two midfield spots available, which should be occupied by Adams and David Ozoh, who will act as a defensive screen in front of the defence.
Since Blackett-Taylor is out injured, Kenzo Goudmijn is likely to start as a number 10, where he’ll look to thread killer passes through to the two strikers, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kayden Jackson.
Mendez-Laing set multiple records in League One last term, while Jackson will be keen to show his ‘electric’ pace in behind to hurt the hosts.
Derby County (3-4-1-2): Vickers; Nelson, Bradley, Cashin; Wilson, Ozoh, Adams, Osborn; Goudmijn; Mendez-Laing, Jackson.