Local lad Stone on a roll for derby day
TOM HUDDLESTONE admits the chance to be involved in the East Midlands derby between Derby and Nottingham Forest again was a big part of his decision to rejoin the Rams last season.
The Nottingham-born midfielder first played in the clash as a 16-year-old in September 2003, while tomorrow night’s meeting will be his seventh involvement.
Huddlestone has never been on the losing side, either, with Derby winning three of those games – although he was sent off in a goalless draw in March.
He said: “Fifteen years is a long time but they still mean as much to me now as they did then.
“Everyone knows the general rivalry but, on a personal level, being born and raised in Nottingham, my family are Forest fans, I’m living back in Nottingham now, and being let go by them when I was a kid, that all makes for a good mix.
“I was there from Under-9s to Under-12s and was let go, although I could have gone back on a trial basis.
“It was devastating, being a 12-year-old boy and being told you’re not quite good enough.
“But a few weeks later I signed for Derby at the start of the Under-13s season and kicked on fairly quickly after that.”
Just one point separates Frank Lampard’s Derby side from Aitor Karanka’s Forest, with both eyeing the promotion places.
Huddlestone added: “The two clubs’ league positions, points-wise, are as close at this stage of the season as they have been for a number of years and it adds more fuel to the fire.
“Both teams have been a little bit inconsistent, we’ve had a couple of good runs with a few dodgy runs in between.
“You know what you are going to get from Karanka’s team, they are very organised and especially with a player like Lewis Grabban, who at this level is one of the best over the last couple of years at scoring goals.”
Lampard is able to name an unchanged line-up to the one which won at Wigan last week thanks to in-form striker Jack Marriott’s goal.
Meanwhile, Karanka will give Huddlestone’s former Tottenham team-mate Michael Dawson and Danny Fox every chance to prove their fitness.
Tobias Figueiredo will miss the game as he completes his three-match ban.
Derby v Nottingham Forest Tomorrow, 7.45pm, Sky Sports Main Event