Bielik set to join in training on route to fitness
KRYSTIAN Bielik should be ready to step up his recovery from long-term injury after the next international break.
The Rams also hope Colin KazimRichards will not be far behind him in his comeback.
Bielik has been out since he suffered a second serious knee injury in the home victory against Bristol City in January.
The Poland international midfielder is working his way back from ACL surgery and is not expected back in action until the turn of the year.
“Positive news on Krystian, who will join in part of the sessions with us after the international break, which is really going to plan,” said manager Rooney ahead of tonight’s Championship clash with Reading at Pride Park Stadium.
“Then, obviously, it is going to take a while to build himself up and get his confidence back in his injury, but it will be nice to have him part of the non-contact sessions with us and for himself also to be back among the group.”
Kazim-Richards has been out since damaging an Achilles tendon in the 2-1 defeat away to Peterborough United last month.
“It is just about reassessing Colin after the international break, I would imagine it would be some sort of training with us probably a week after the international break,” said Rooney.
The 35-year-old striker has missed the last eight matches.
Festy Ebosele has also been out since the Peterborough match through illness but Rooney added: “Festy will be in tomorrow (Wednesday) training on his own and, hopefully, he can train with the group on Thursday.”
Ryan Allsop will make his first Championship start for Derby County when Reading visit Pride Park Stadium tonight.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper will replace Kelle Roos, who serves a one-match suspenion following his red card in the defeat by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Allsop’s two appearances for the Rams since signing as a free agent in the summer have come in Carabao Cup ties, against Salford City and Sheffield United.
Scotland international David Marshall, who has been thirdchoice keeper this season, will be on the bench. Craig Forsyth was an unused substitute at the weekend after returning to the squad following his threematch ban for a challenge on Nottingham Forest’s Philip Zinckernagel in last month’s 1-1 draw.
Forsyth went unpunished by referee Tim Robinson at the time but the Football Association took retrospective action and he missed the fixtures against Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.
The 32-year-old was in good form during a run of six starts in seven games before his ban and is an option for manager Wayne Rooney against Reading. Lee Buchanan has started the last four matches at leftback.
Handing Jason Knight a start is also an option for Rooney.
The Republic of Ireland international midfielder has made one start and three appearances as a substitute since returning from the ankle injury he suffered early on in preseason.
Knight missed seven games from the start of the campaign but is pushing for a place in the starting line-up
Predicted Derby 11: Allsop; Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Forsyth; Bird, Shinnie; Knight, Morrison, Lawrence; Baldock.
administrators look to navigate through the administration process.
“His work and assistance over the last 10 months in preparing for potential new ownership has been, and will continue to be, valuable as the club looks to move forward in both the short and long-term.”
McClaren, a former player, assistant manager, head coach and manager of the club, was appointed as both advisor to the board and technical director in November last year, following Phillip Cocu’s departure.
“Steve has come in throughout a difficult period for everyone at the club,” said manager Wayne Rooney.
“Obviously, he is very experienced, I worked with him before at England.
“He has stepped down as technical director, he is going to be in on a part-time basis more so to work on things in the Academy, not so much the first team.
“So he’ll use his experience in terms of how we move forward with the Academy.
“It is my first job in management and we are a young group, but more than capable of working.
“Sometimes you feel like you need someone to give you that experience, especially managing up, but it has been well documented over the last few weeks it was very difficult for anyone to help in that in terms of managing up.
“It is something I have really had to figure out for myself and I will continue to try to do that.”