Sibley Makes First League Start As Rams Make Five Changes For Blackburn Clash

Manager Phillip Cocu has made five changes from Thursday night’s Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Manchester United as the Rams return to Sky Bet Championship action this afternoon to face Blackburn Rovers (3pm kick-off).

Forward Tom Lawrence picked up a knock against the Red Devils and misses out this afternoon, whilst captain Wayne Rooney also misses out today.

In come Chris Martin and Graeme Shinnie for the Rams, whilst Ben Hamer returns between the stick as Kelle Roos reverts to the substitutes' bench.

Andre Wisdom returns to the starting XI this after missing Thursday’s game against United owing to illness and captains the Rams this afternoon.

Matt Clarke also returns to the heart of the defence, while George Evans and Max Lowe both moving to the bench.

Fresh from his Man of the Match performance on Thursday, youngster Louie Sibley earns his first league start for the Rams and is one of four Academy graduates in the starting line-up.

Here are the teams:

Derby County: Hamer, Wisdom (C), Forsyth, Shinnie, Waghorn, Clarke, Martin, Bogle, Knight, Sibley, Bird.

Substitutes: Roos, Marriott, Evans, Lowe, Davies, Malone, Whittaker.

Blackburn Rovers: Walton, Nyambe, Armstrong, Rothwell, Gallagher, Bell, Downing, Brereton, Adarabioyo, Travis, Bennett (C).

Substitutes: Leutwiler, Johnson, Graham, Samuel, Buckley, Davenport, Rankin-Costello.