Former Derby County gem who Gary Rowett cast away could come back to haunt in Preston clash

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Derby County have a chance to really pull away from the relegation battle this weekend as they take on struggling Preston North End, but they will have to watch out for a former player who will be keen to hurt them.

After a promising start to the season, Derby County now head into a run of fixtures leading into the festive period that could very well define their campaign.

Paul Warne’s side are currently 12th in the Championship table, but could just as easily get sucked into the drop zone as they could push on for a play-off place, such is the competitiveness of this division.

Preston are up next, and Paul Heckingbottom’s men are four points and eight places behind Derby as things stand.

While Warne is likely focusing on his own players and the latest Derby County injury news ahead of the weekend, the Rams boss will have to keep an eye on one Preston North End star who could do some damage at Deepdale.

• READ MORE: Paul Warne told he has one player who is just so different to anyone else in Derby County squad

Emil Riis is one to watch for Preston North End

While Preston have largely struggled this season, one man who is doing everything he can to lift the team is star striker, Emil Riis.

The Danish forward now has three goals and two assists from 15 league games for Preston, and if they are to stay in this division, you would imagine Riis will play a big role in that fight.

Interestingly, Riis was on the books at Derby from a young age, having arrived from his boyhood club, Randers, in 2015. He never made a senior appearance for the Rams, and returned to Denmark on a free transfer after being released by former Derby County manager, Gary Rowett, in 2018.

Riis made the return to England a couple of years later to join Preston, and has now made over 150 appearances for the Lancashire side, scoring 37 goals in total.

There is no doubt that, even without his connection to Derby, Riis would be the main threat for Preston anyway. But, with something to prove to his former club, you simply cannot bet against the Dane spoiling the party for Paul Warne’s men on Saturday.

• READ MORE: When Derby County made unwanted Premier League history in 2007/08, here’s where the players are now

A win at Preston could propel Derby County for rest of 2024

While Derby have made a good start to the season, they now head into a very important and hectic period that will very likely make or break their campaign.

Indeed, the next six games see the Rams take on four teams around or below them, plus a couple of huge away games at two of the best clubs in the league.

There is no reason Derby can’t beat Preston, and then pick up two more wins at home to Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday after that.

Realistically, if they do that, the Rams will go into the games against Leeds United and Burnley sitting just outside the play-offs.

They’ll be lucky to come away from Elland Road and Turf Moor with anything, though, but the subsequent game against Portsmouth at Pride Park would be the ideal place to get back on track heading into the festive fixtures.