Louie in the running
DERBY County will make a late call on Duane Holmes’ fitness but the midfielder remains “very doubtful” for tomorrow’s home game against Brentford.
A hamstring problem forced Holmes off just before half-time of Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
He was assessed yesterday and manager Phillip Cocu said: “We have to see tomorrow if he can be part of the training. It is still very doubtful he will be available for Saturday.
“Any muscle issue can be high risk. Sometimes you have to take some risks but you cannot afford losing a player in the remaining games.”
Cocu also said that two of Derby’s unused substitutes against Albion, Florian Jozefzoon and Max
Lowe, were not fully fit.
“Jozefzoon was not 100% and Max Lowe was not 100%. He was on the bench but we didn’t want to take any risks. Hopefully, they will feel better in one or two days,” said Cocu.
Derby will also be without the injured Jack Marriott and Andre Wisdom against Brentford, as well as the suspended Martyn Waghorn.
Wisdom could start light training but doubt remains over whether the defender will be available this season.
DERBY County’s Louie Sibley has been nominated for the Sky Bet Championship player of the month award for June.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder scored a hat-trick in Derby’s 3-2 victory over Millwall at The Den.
He also helped the Rams to a win against Reading.
The Academy product has started the last seven matches but was sent off in the defeat by West Bromwich Albion.
Sibley is up against Swansea City striker Rhian Brewster, Charlton Athletic defender Jason Pearce and Luton Town
Wisdom has missed the last three matches after being stabbed in an “unprovoked assault and robbery” in a Liverpool street last month.
“He came in today. I spoke only briefly to him. He is feeling better,” said Cocu.
“He will be back in tomorrow to start some individual, very light workout, so that is positive.
“I think I will have a longer chat with him tomorrow to see how he really is and his fitness for maybe a training session in general.
“He looked better than when we saw him last time, so that is positive but I don’t know if we can count on him in the remainder of the season.
“That really depends on himself and on what he can do in such a short period to get back and be part of the team.” Wisdom was on a run of 12 consecutive starts in the League before the incident.
Marriott is working his way back from groin surgery.
He has missed the last five matches but joined in parts of training at Moor Farm yesterday.
“It was the first time he joined in some parts of the training, so it was good for him to be back and part of the team,” said Cocu.
“It is obvious he will need a little bit more time but maybe towards the end he could be available. That would be a bonus.”
Duane Holmes goalkeeper Simon Sluga.
The four nominations for the manager of the month in the Championship are Lee Bowyer (Charlton Athletic), Paul Cook (Wigan Athletic), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Neil Harris (Cardiff City).
The judging panel comprises former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL communications director Mark Rowan and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
The winners of both monthly awards were due to be announced today.