Dilemma for Roo as players return for Potters clash
DERBY County could be boosted by the return of a number of players for tonight’s Championship clash against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium (7.45pm).
Skipper Tom Lawrence, Phil Jagielka, Graeme Shinnie and Kamil Jozwiak all missed Monday’s victory over West Bromwich Albion because they were self-isolating under the Covid-19 protocol or not quite 100% for the game following self-isolation.
Jagielka and Jozwiak had trained for a couple of days, manager Wayne Rooney said, while Lawrence and Shinnie were due to return to training on Tuesday.
Their availability still leaves Rooney with decisions to make, as he explained.
“That is where it is difficult for players who have had symptoms and have been ill, to be expected to come straight back into the team,” said Rooney.
“Tom Lawrence and Graeme Shinnie will have finished their isolation and we will analyse and see where they are from a fitness point of view.
“I had it myself a while ago and it does take a longer time than you think to get over it but I don’t have to go out on the pitch. These lads are expected to come in and train hard and play in difficult games. The players’ health is more important.”
Does Rooney recall the four players to the team or does he give all or some of them a few more days’ training/recovery so they are ready for Monday’s game away against Reading?
It is a dilemma facing many managers in the current situation and they are having to shuffle their squads.
Derby have gone with three centre-backs and wing-backs in more of a 3-4-3 formation in the past two games and it is likely they will do the same against Stoke.
The balance of the three centrebacks improved when Craig Forsyth was switched from wing-back to the left of the trio and Curtis Davies moved across.
The three of them were key cogs in the win against Albion and Richard Stearman was Sky’s man of the match in what was his first start in three months.
It is tempting to put Jagielka back in because he has been a key figure this season but that would be tough on either Stearman or Forsyth given their performances against Albion, and there is the fixture at Reading to consider.
There is a similar discussion in midfield where Liam Thompson stepped in for Shinnie and impressed. Shinnie has started 21 of the 23 League games but a few extra days’ training ahead of Reading could be the plan with him.
Jozwiak caught the eye with his display at right wing-back against Blackpool. Could he return in the left wing-back role or will Festy Ebosle keep his place? Ebosele started on the right but switched to the left during the first half on Monday.
Striker Colin Kazim-richards came off the bench to score the winner on Monday and he is pushing for a start in place of 19-year-old Luke Plange, who has started in the last two matches. ■ Rams predicted XI: Allsop; Stearman, Davies, Forsyth; Byrne, Bird, Thompson,
Jozwiak; Knight, Kazim-richards, Lawrence.