Cup clash might offer chance to give others game time
HOW will Wayne Rooney approach team selection for Derby County’s FA Cup tie against Coventry City?
The Rams are unbeaten in four matches and have momentum in their bid to beat the odds and avoid relegation from the Championship.
They have collected 10 points from the last 12 thanks to victories over Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City along with a draw at Reading.
Positive results breed confidence and belief, and that is what we are seeing from the team.
Rooney named an unchanged side at Reading on Monday. Does he do the same for tomorrow’s third round tie away against Coventry or does he hand some players needed starts and minutes on the pitch?
Derby will need all of their squad in the second half of the season and so there is a case for keeping match fitness of players topped up.
Colin Kazim-richards, Ravel Morrison and Festy Ebosele have come off the bench in recent games and made an impact. They will be pushing for a start. Kazim-richards has scored in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
Graeme Shinnie has missed the last three fixtures due to Covid. The midfielder is back in training and could return to the team. He played 45 minutes in an under-23 friendly against Mansfield Town on Tuesday.
Centre-backs Curtis Davies and Phil Jagielka did not feature in the Carabao Cup ties earlier this season. Could they be handed a breather?
Derby have central defender Richard Stearman chomping at the bit for another game having been man of the match when he played against West Brom on December 27.
Ryan Allsop started in the Carabao Cup but he is currently first-choice keeper, having started the last five League matches. Could
Kelle Roos be handed a start at Coventry?
Louie Sibley’s last game for the first team was as a substitute in the draw away against Millwall on November 6.
Rooney has a few options when it comes to the 11 he sends out at Coventry. Whichever way he goes, he will be determined to win the game.
“The way that we work, we don’t take a backward step, we work at 100% every day in training and every game matters,” said Rams assistant manager Liam Rosenior.
“We had a good result at Coventry (in the League) the last time (a 1-1 draw in October), can we go one better and win the game.”
A good Cup run would be a boost financially, especially if it is boosted with TV games, and all revenue is welcome just now given the club’s plight in administration. ■■Predicted Derby County 11: Roos; Byrne, Stearman, Davies, Williams; Shinnie, Bird; Ebosele, Morrison, Jozwiak; Kazimrichards.
1927:
The Harlem Globetrotters, one of the world’s best-known basketball teams, were founded by Abraham Saperstein of Chicago.
1942:
Russian weightlifter Vasily Alexeev, who set 80 official world records and used to eat a 36-egg omelette for breakfast, was born. He won gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.
1997:
Murray Kidd resigned as coach of Ireland’s rugby union side.
Andrew Strauss holds the Ashes urn after England’s series win in 2011.
2011:
England beat Australia by an innings and 83 runs to win the fifth Test in Sydney and complete a 3-1 Ashes series victory.
2013:
Scotland’s most capped scrumhalf Mike Blair announced his retirement from international rugby.
2018:
Holders Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round after losing 4-2 to Championship side Nottingham Forest.