Manager Phillip Cocu has handed young midfielder Max Bird his first league start of the season this evening for the visit of Charlton Athletic to Pride Park Stadium (7:45pm kick-off).


The Academy graduate is one of four changes for the Rams tonight from the 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day.

Bird was introduced after 44 minutes during Thursday’s game at the DW tadium, replacing Krystian Bielik, and his performance has earned him his first league start at Pride Park Stadium.

Central defender Matt Clarke has recovered from a knee injury which has ruled him out for six weeks and he has replaced Craig Forsyth, who reverts to the bench.

Andre Wisdom has returned to the starting XI for the first time since the game against Blackburn Rovers last month and replaces Jayden Bogle, who misses this evening's game with an eye infection.

The only other change comes in attack as Jack Marriott starts in place of the suspended Tom Lawrence.

Here are the teams in full:

Derby County: Hamer, Wisdom, Bielik, Waghorn, Marriott, Clarke, Holmes, Lowe, Davies (C), Knight, Bird.

Substitutes: Roos, Forsyth, Dowell, Martin, Sibley, Malone, Whittaker.

Charlton Athletic: Phillips, Solly (C), Bonne, Morgan, Sarr, Gallagher, Lockyer, Doughty, Pratley, Purrington, Oshilaja.

Substitutes: Maynard-Brewer, Matthews, Pearce, Taylor, Ledley, Dempsey, Davison.