Rooney Names Team For West Bromwich Albion Clash

Manager Wayne Rooney has made five changes to the side which beat Blackpool 1-0 more than two weeks ago for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship clash against West Bromwich Albion (3pm kick-off).

Derby are still without some players for the game as they are having to or have had to self-isolate under the strict COVID-19 protocol guidance.

Striker Luke Plange will be hoping to build on his match-winning exploits from the game against the Seasiders against the Baggies.

Rooney welcomes back Nathan Byrne, Sam Baldock and Festy Ebosele to the starting line-up, whilst there is also a start for central defender Richard Stearman, who starts for the first time since the start of October.

Baldock has recovered from a hamstring injury and starts for the first time since the 3-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth last month, whilst youngster Liam Thompson comes back in to midfield.

Centre-back Curtis Davies captains the Rams against one of his former clubs.

Derby County: Allsop, Byrne, Forsyth, Bird, Baldock, Stearman, Davies (C), Ebosele, Knight, Thompson, Plange.

Substitutes: Marshall, Morrison, Kazim-Richards, Sibley, Watson, Cashin, Williams.

West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone, Reach, Townsend, Bartley, Robinson, Livermore (C), Diangana, Clarke, Furlong, Molumby, Kipre.

Substitutes: Button, Ajayi, Hugill, Gardner-Hickman, Fellows, Ashworth, Tulloch.