The international break is here, and while that disruption can leaves fans impatiently waiting to see their club in action again, it does give Paul Warne the chance to get three Derby County players back into his squad after injuries and suspensions.
Over the last month, Derby County have endured a fairly inconsistent run of results, with one win, one defeat, and four draws in their previous six games.
In many ways, the international break might have come at exactly the right time for Paul Warne, as he looks to revitalise his squad.
One thing’s for sure, Warne has some major selection decisions to make from here on out, but the return of three players will give the Derby County boss a welcome headache.
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Eiran Cashin and Callum Elder are back for Derby County
Warne has two Derby players at risk of suspension at the moment but has one returning, and is also set to welcome back both Callum Elder and David Ozoh, who have been out with injury recently.
The ‘gifted’ Ozoh has been missing since mid-September but has stepped up his training regime of late, and is due to return to the action for the meeting with Preston on November 23.
That will be a huge boost to Warne’s midfield options, but the addition of both Elder and Eiran Cashin in defence will also bolster the Rams’ backline ahead of the trip to Deepdale.
All three players are highly likely to be in the starting lineup, having featured prominently before their respective absences.
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Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Corey Blackett-Taylor on the wing
As well as accommodating the returning trio, Paul Warne also has a big decision to make when it comes to his wingers.
With Kayden Jackson wasting a number of opportunities against Plymouth Argyle last weekend, there have been calls for Corey Blackett-Taylor to be reintroduced, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing switching to his preferred right wing role.
| Statistic | Kayden Jackson | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | Corey Blackett-Taylor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 | 17 | 7 |
| Minutes played | 1,311 | 1,076 | 200 |
| Goals + assists | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Shots on target | 47.8% | 18.5% | 57.1% |
| Crosses per 90 | 2.74 | 7.92 | 2.27 |
Blackett-Taylor has had to be patient this season, but is surely due a chance to show what he can do. The Preston game is the perfect opportunity, too, as his quality on the ball can help the Rams dominate a game where they could have the majority of possession against a team that has struggled in that area this year.
Predicted lineup for Derby County vs Preston North End
Assuming the three players are ready to go for the Preston game, and that Warne does indeed try something new on the wings, this is the likely starting XI for Derby’s trip to Deepdale:
Jacob Widell Zetterström; Kane Wilson, Curtis Nelson, Eiran Cashin, Callum Elder; David Ozoh, Ben Osborn, Kenzo Goudjmin; Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Jerry Yates.