Cocu Names First Starting Line Up Of The Championship Season For Reading Clash

Manager Phillip Cocu has named his first starting line up of the new 2020/21 Sky Bet Championship season as the Derby County host Reading at Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick off) this afternoon.

Cocu has handed a Derby debut to goalkeeper David Marshall, after signing from Wigan Athletic in the summer, whilst defender Mike te Wierik plays his first league game for the Rams after making his competitive debut against Barrow AFC in the Carabao Cup last weekend.

Fellow new signing Nathan Byrne has to settle for a place on the bench, after arriving from Wigan on Thursday, whilst centre-back Matt Clarke makes his second league debut for the Rams after signing a second season-long loan deal from Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion.

Youngster Max Bird will captain the side from the start for the first time in a league game in absence of Wayne Rooney, who is named amongst the substitutes after recovering from injury, whilst Andre Wisdom will make his first start since suffering injuries following an unprovoked attack at the end of June.

Here is the team news in full:

Derby County: Marshall, Wisdom, Forsyth, Shinnie, te Wierik, Bird (C), Marriott, Clarke, Sibley, Whittaker, Knight.

Substitutes: Roos, Byrne, Evans, Buchanan, Rooney, Davies, Brown.

Reading: Cabrol, Richards, Morrison, Moore (C), Olise, Rinomhota, Swift, Ejaria, Yiadom, Joao, Laurant.

Substitutes: Southwood, Baldock, Arauna, Aluko, Holmes, Briston, Puscas.