Evans is on way back, Bennett and Ledley get closer

GEORGE Evans is set to return to Derby County’s squad for the first time since August.

Injuries have restricted the 24-year-old midfielder to only two appearances since he signed from Reading in the summer.

Evans was one of nine signings made by manager Frank Lampard and he put pen to paper on a threeyear contract.

He made his debut in the Carabao Cup tie against Oldham Athletic in August and then his League debut came against Ipswich Town at Pride Park Stadium a week later.

A knee problem forced him off in the first half of the Ipswich game and he has not been seen in the first team since.

He recovered from the knee injury only to be troubled by a hip problem and then a thigh injury.

Two games for the Under-23s recently saw him play 68 minutes in a 5-0 victory over Arsenal and then 80 minutes in a Premier League 2 Division One fixture against Manchester ■■Not including last night’s result

City.

He is now ready to return to the first-team picture.

“George is fit. He played in the game for the Under-23s last week and he is in contention, definitely,” said Lampard, as he prepares his squad to face Nottingham Forest in Monday night’s Championship clash at Pride Park, which is to be shown live on Sky Sports.

Derby are again without injured defenders Curtis Davies (Achilles) and Craig Forsyth (knee), who are both set to miss the rest of the season.

Bradley Johnson is suspended and Mason Bennett is also out with the hamstring injury he suffered in the home defeat by Aston Villa last month.

Bennett is making good progress, Lampard confirmed.

“He is good, he is on schedule, he is happy, he is working hard and he has managed to get out on the grass, which every player wants to do,” Lampard added.

“It came slightly quicker than what we imagined and let’s not get excited, it (his return) is not going to be next week but he is certainly on schedule and, as expected, is doing everything in the right way to be back as quickly as he can be in the new year.

“With these sort of injuries it is the latter stages you have to get to in order to give any precise time on a return.

“Mason is putting in the groundwork and it will be great to have him back in the mix because not only is