TEAM NEWS: Derby County Vs Watford

Derby County’s starting line-up for their first home game of 2025, against Watford in the Sky Bet Championship, has been confirmed (3pm kick-off).

The Rams host the Hornets, who sit eighth in the league, at Pride Park Stadium. Tom Cleverley’s side came out on top in a narrow 2-1 win at Vicarage Road in the reverse fixture back in August.

Centre-back Eiran Cashin is back in the starting line-up after being sidelined with a hamstring issue since mid-December. He comes in place of Nat Phillips who misses out after sustaining an injury against Leyton Orient that saw him depart the field at half-time.

Paul Warne has made six changes from the side that began the game on Tuesday night in the Emirates FA Cup against Leyton Orient.

Midfielder Ebou Adams came on as a half-time substitute in midweek and returns to the starting line-up today after missing the 1-0 loss at Bristol City as a result of sustaining a concussion against Sheffield Wednesday on New Year's Day.

Fellow midfielder Ben Osborn and striker Jerry Yates also return to the fray after both being rested on Tuesday.

Derby’s first January signing, Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, won’t be involved in this afternoon’s game after joining and first training with the club on Thursday.

The Teams

Derby County: Zetterström (GK); Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder; Goudmijn, Adams, Osborn; Mendez-Laing (C), Jackson, Yates.

On The Bench: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Barkhuizen, Collins, Thompson, Harness, Blackett-Taylor, Brown, Ward.

Watford: Bond (GK), Ngakia, Sierralta, Pollock (C), Louza, Vata, Bayo, Dele-Bashiru, Abankwah, Baah, Kayembe.

On The Bench: Roberts (GK), Porteous, Ince, Sissoko, Doumbia, Ogbonna, Larouci, Andrews, Nabizada.