Bielik Returns Following Long-Term Injury For Barnsley Clash

Krystian Bielik makes his long-awaited return to the Derby County starting line up for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship clash against Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick-off).

The 22-year-old has missed the last 10 months of football after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament knee injury in an Under-23s fixture in January.

It’s been a long road back for the Polish international, who has featured in two Under-23s fixtures as part of his rehabilitation back into the first team.

Bielik, who can play in defence or midfield, is one of two changes for the Rams as full back Lee Buchanan also returns to the starting squad.

Buchanan replaces Craig Forsyth in the squad, whilst Kamil Jozwiak moves down to the substitute’s bench.

Here are the teams:

Derby County: Marshall, Shinnie, Bielik, Waghorn, Lawrence, Byrne, Clarke, Buchanan, Rooney (C), Davies, Knight

Substitutes: Roos, Wisdom, Jozwiak, Bird, Kazim-Richards, Sibley, Holmes.

Barnsley: Walton, Styles, Andersen, Brittain, Woodrow, Chaplin, Sollbauer, Mowatt (C), Frieser, Helik, James.

Substitutes: Collins, Kane, Thomas, Schmidt, Oduor, Halme, Adeboyejo.