Derby County’s Under-21s will host near neighbours Nottingham Forest in the last-16 of the Premier League Cup on Friday night.
The Rams will host the Reds at Loughborough University Stadium (7pm kick-off) and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game.
Team News...
Defender Harrison Solomon returned to action in Monday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland after injury, so will hope to get more minutes under his belt. Fellow defender Max Bardell has returned to full training as he steps up his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered in the Under-21s' 3-0 loss at Southampton at the start of January, so could be in contention to feature.
Goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes (Kettering Town), midfielder Connor Dixon (Ilkeston Town) and forwards Bartosz Cybulski (Solihull Moors) and George Nunn (Mickleover FC) are all out on loan gaining first-team match experience.
The Season So Far...
The Under-21s ended their long wait for a Premier League 2 - Division 2 point in Monday's draw with Sunderland, picking up their first of the season. However, they've fared much better in the Premier League Cup, topping Group B with three wins and two draws from their double-headers against QPR, AFC Bournemouth and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Those victories came as part of a five-match unbeaten run through November and December, when they also beat Graham Street Prims in the Derbyshire Senior Cup to set up for a Fourth Round trip to Alfreton Town which, after being postponed in January, will be played on Wednesday 1st March (7:45pm kick-off).
This will be the sides' third meeting of the campaign, after already locking horns twice in league action earlier in the season. Forest were 1-0 winners at Pride Park Stadium back in October, before the reverse fixture at the Nigel Doughty Academy ended 7-2 to the Reds in January.
To view the Under-21s' full 2022/23 fixture list, please click here.
Ticket Information...
Derby County's Under-21s will continue to play home matches at Loughborough University Stadium throughout the 2022/23 season.
Supporters will once again be able to attend the matches and tickets can be purchased in advance of each fixture from the Loughborough Sport website.
Advanced purchases are advised, and all tickets will be for the terracing areas of Loughborough University Stadium.
Tickets are priced as follows:
Season Ticket Holders: FREE (on production of their Season Ticket Card)
Advance Purchases: Adult £3.50, Concessions £1.50 (these include online booking fees)
Matchday Purchases: Adult £5, Concessions £2.50 (Please note payment by cash is NOT accepted at Loughborough University Stadium)
*The doors will open for each match from 30 minutes before kick-off.
Stadium Address: Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough, LE11 3TL.
Live Stream...
RamsTV is not streaming the game live on Friday night.
Full match highlights from the Premier League Cup clash will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the match.
