Gary’s tough call

DERBY manager Gary Rowett says it is difficult for him to change a winning team despite the temptation to bring back Chris Martin, George Thorne and Johnny Russell against Ipswich tonight.

Rowett has named the same starting line-up for the last two matches and been rewarded with back-to-back victories to make it six wins in the last eight games on their rise to sixth place in the Championship.

He accepts that makes it difficult to make changes. “With Chris, George and Johnny I’m thinking all the time about how I can get them into the team because they are good players, but at the same time it is hard to disrupt something when it is going well,” said Rowett.

Reading have the chance to leapfrog Barnsley, one place above them in 17th, at the Madejski Stadium.

Both teams are without a win in three matches but Royals boss Jaap Stam is not underestimating Barnsley.

“They’re a side with a lot of quality,” he said. MONACO have announced the appointment of former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo as their new sporting director

The 52-year-old resigned from his post at Stamford Bridge this month saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, but he has now taken on a similar role at the Ligue 1 club.

He said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for me at a high-quality project.

“Vadim Vasilyev’s [Monaco president] desire for me to join the club was decisive and, for me, the choice was natural.”