Win and progress. That’s Derby County Under-23s’ mission on Tuesday evening when they face Dinamo Zagreb in their final Premier League International Cup group-stage fixture.
Darren Wassall’s men take on the Croatian outfit at St George’s Park, kick-off: 7pm and ahead of the meeting, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the information you are going to need to know ahead of kick-off…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
Darren Wassall should have a similar squad to call upon once again when his Under-23s side face Zagreb.
Callum Guy has a chance of returning to the starting XI after suffering with illness last week, but that aside, there are no new injury doubts going into Tuesday’s game.
Wassall, Derby’s academy director, had the likes of Jason Shackell, Ikechi Anya, Mason Bennett, Jamie Hanson and Max Lowe to call upon for their 3-3 draw with Arsenal and they could all feature once more in this game.
Kyle McAllister continues to be ruled out of action.
SETTING THE SCENE
Win and Derby County’s Under-23s will finish top of a group containing German giants Wolfsburg, the reigning Premier League 2 champions Everton and Croatian big-hitters Dinamo Zagreb.
The Rams head into Tuesday’s final group fixture with four points under their belts, after beating Wolfsburg 1-0 and recording a goalless draw with the Toffees at Pride Park.
Likewise, Zagreb also sit pretty in Group C with four points ahead of this winner takes all meeting.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Craig Short, the Under-23s assistant coach, has been discussing the very different benefits that the club’s young players are being given by playing in the competition.
He told RamsTV: “One good thing about playing this opposition, which we found last year when we played against Benfica and PSV Eindhoven, is that it’s a different challenge.
“Benfica were outstanding and we had to adapt to a different way and we had to change a few things at half-time.
“The trip to Spain was great as well because the players were older than us and again it was different style, different tactics and technical ability as well, so it all helps their development.
“We’re just trying to get the players ready for what lies ahead, and hopefully we’re going in the right direction.”
Read Craig Short’s full pre-match interviews now on dcfc.co.uk.
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
As was the case last season, supporters will be able to watch Derby County’s Under-23s for FREE at St George’s Park this evening.
No tickets for admission is needed ahead of the fixture at Burton-upon-Trent base, whilst car parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis.
HOW OUR UNDER-23S GOT ON LAST TIME OUT?
ARSENAL U23s 3-3 DERBY COUNTY U23s
Friday 15th December, 2017
They gave everything, but Derby County's Under-23s were forced to settle for a point at Meadow Park as Arsenal fought back from two goals to rescue a point from an action-packed Premier League 2 Division 1 meeting at Boreham Wood last Friday.
The Rams led 3-1 after an hour thanks to strikes from Charles Vernam, Mason Bennett and Alex Babos and they looked well on course to collect another three points.
Chuba Akpom scored the Gunners, but once Jordi Osei-Tutu set up a grandstand finish, the hosts made their pressure count as Julio Pleguezuelo volleyed in an equaliser to seal a point from a six-goal thriller.
Arsenal: Macey; Sheaf, Bielik (Eyoma, 87), Pleguezuelo; Osei-Tutu, Reine-Adelaide (Gilmour, 68), McGuane, Bola; Fortune (Coyle, 64), Akpom, Dragomir
Substitutes not used: Iliev, Omole
Derby County: Barnes; Anya, Wassall, Shackell, Lowe; Hanson, Vernam, Babos; Thomas (Guy, 79), Zanzala, Bennett
Substitutes not used: Walker, Yates, Karic, Bateman
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
Rams supporters not attending Tuesday night’s fixture will be able to follow all of the action LIVE and for FREE on RamsTV. As usual, you will be able to keep up to date with all the key moments across the official Derby County Academy Twitter account, @dcfcacademy, whilst a full match report, match images, reaction and match highlights will follow across dcfc.co.uk and RamsTV after the full-time whistle.
