"They Are All Ready And Fighting"

The message from Frank Lampard to his players is simple; nine games are left to play in the Sky Bet Championship this season and it’s all in Derby County’s hands to finish in the top six.

Whilst the Rams occupy eighth position in the table, they have a game in hand on both Aston Villa and Preston North End and only sit a point behind them.

It’s been a long international break for the Rams, just over two weeks since their last game, but it has been full of rest, hard work on the training ground and preparation for the run-in.

“Everyone feels ready,” Lampard told RamsTV. “We have had a nice break, it was much needed to get some rest. We played so many games this year with the cup runs and the league and the break has helped.

“We have rested, worked hard and the message is very clear now. There are nine games and if we can win enough of them, we are in a good position and we can get into the play-offs.”

The break has allowed players on the treatment table to step up their recovery.

Mason Mount, Mason Bennett, Craig Bryson and Tom Lawrence have all been struggling with various injuries over the past couple of weeks, however, they are all back in contention at a pivotal point of the season.

“Competition for places is a nice problem,” Lampard said. “Even though there will be people who will have to be out of the squad or out the team on the bench. We need to be together for the nine games and I will be calling on everybody at some point over those nine games.

“I am pleased that everyone is fit and it is a problem I haven’t had for a while and it is a good problem to have.

“The spirit is good here and it has been all year. I have worked hard on that in trying to create that environment, but that is down to the players. They all get on and they all want to win.

“They are competitive in training to start, you have to be competitive every day of the week and I can’t moan at all about that. They are all ready and fighting.

“It is all about results but that comes from training and how they approach them, and the players are doing everything I want.”

It has been 17 days since the Rams were last in action in the 0-0 draw against Stoke City.

Lampard’s side host Rotherham United at Pride Park tomorrow afternoon and he revealed his players are hungry to get back on the pitch.

“That’s the beauty of the break,” he commented.

“We thought that coming in to it. I knew that they needed it, mentally and physically. They do look hungry and the trick now is to convert that in to performances starting tomorrow.”