Paul Warne has named his Derby County line-up as he prepares to oversee his first home game as the club’s Head Coach.
Derby will face Port Vale at Pride Park Stadium as they look to record a third successive victory in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off).
Warne saw the Rams get off to the perfect start in the first match following his appointment towards the end of September last weekend, with striker James Collins scoring twice in a 2-0 success at Cambridge United.
There’s just one change to the side that lined up at the Abbey Stadium for the first-ever meeting with Port Vale at Pride Park - and it comes in defence.
The Rams are without skipper Curtis Davies after he missed training in recent days due to feeling unwell, so the experienced Richard Stearman makes his first league start in just over a month.
Midfielder Max Bird will captain the side in Davies’ absence, while on-loan Sheffield United striker Will Osula is back in the squad after illness and takes his place on the bench.
Defender Jake Rooney has overcome a thigh issue, which has kept him out of action in recent weeks, and is amongst the substitutes, as is attacking midfielder Louie Sibley after shaking off a minor ankle knock sustained in the Papa Johns Trophy clash at Mansfield Town in midweek.
Striker David McGoldrick (thigh) and goalkeeper Joseph Anang (arm) remain sidelined, while midfielder Korey Smith isn’t involved after only just returning to training after several weeks out with a foot injury.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane, Chester, Cashin, Barkhuizen, Bird (C), Collins, Mendez-Laing, Dobbin, Stearman, Knight.
Substitutes: Loach (GK), Rooney, Forsyth, Roberts, Thompson, Sibley, Osula.
Port Vale: Stephens (GK), Jones, Walker, Smith, Garrity, Wilson, Conlon (C), Forrester, Massey, Harrison, McCarron.
Substitutes: Stone (GK), Hall, Worrall, Odubeko, Pett, Butterworth, Politic.
