The teams for tonight's npower Championship encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium have been announced.
Craig Forsyth is handed his first ever start for the club after completing his loan move from fellow npower Championship side Watford yesterday evening.
The 24-year-old winger replaces top-scorer Jamie Ward, who was withdrawn after 42 minutes in the side’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Friday, after picking up a hamstring injury.
Rams boss Nigel Clough makes two other enforced changes to the starting line-up, as Valentin Gjokaj is handed is maiden start for the Rams, replacing John Brayford, who misses out with a hamstring complaint.
The Albanian Under-21 international features alongside Richard Keogh, Gareth Roberts and Jake Buxton – who makes only his third start since recovering from a medial knee ligament injury.
Ben Davies is in line to make his 16th appearance of the campaign, as the 31-year-old midfielder comes in for Craig Bryson, who misses out after picking up an injury in the defeat to the Eagles at Pride Park on Friday evening.
Elsewhere, Norwich City loanee Chris Martin retains his place alongside Conor Sammon in attack, whilst new signing Forsyth is joined in midfield by Paul Coutts, Jeff Hendrick and Davies.
Knocks to Brayford and Bryson takes the Rams’ injury list up to eight senior players, meaning Clough only has five substitutes at his disposal this evening.
Derby County: Legzdins; Gjokaj, Keogh, Buxton, Roberts; Davies, Coutts, Hendrick, Forsyth; Martin, Sammon.
Subs: Fielding, Hoganson, Bennett, Jacobs, Doyle.
Cardiff City:Â Marshall, Connolly, Nugent, Turner, Taylor, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Smith, Conway, Campbell, Helguson.
Subs: Lewis, McNaughton, Cowie, Kim, Noone, Mason, Gestede.
