Johnny Russell has been restored to the Derby County starting line-up for this afternoon’s highly-anticipated Sky Bet Championship clash away at Newcastle United, kick-off: 3pm.

The 26-year-old Scotland international missed the Rams’ 3-0 win away at Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening with a minor knee injury.Abdoul Camara replaced him at Portman Road and impressed on the left flank, but he drops to the substitutes bench at St James’ Park to make way for Russell – the only change that Steve McClaren has made to his starting line-up.That does mean that Nick Blackman is the unfortunate casualty to drop out of the matchday 18 altogether, with the Rams boasting a strong looking bench once more.This afternoon’s trip to the North East will see Alex Pearce make his 300th start in club football as he continues to partner Richard Keogh at centre back.Behind them is Scott Carson in goal – maintaining his 100 per cent record between the sticks in the league this term – whilst Chris Baird and Marcus Olsson complete the back in the full back positions.In an unchanged midfield, Bradley Johnson is deployed in the holding midfield role, with Craig Bryson, who has scored two goals in his last two games, and Jacob Butterfield playing further forward.Tom Ince, top scorer with 11 to his name for the season, plays on the right flank, Russell on the left, and the duo will partner Darren Bent, who continues to lead the Derby attack.McClaren, making his return to Newcastle, continues to have a strong substitutes bench to call upon with Jonathan Mitchell, the former Magpies youngster, Cyrus Christie, Jason Shackell, Ikechi Anya, Julien de Sart, Abdoul Camara and Matěj Vydra all reserve should he wish to call upon them.

Newcastle United: Darlow, Clark, Dummett, Hanley, Ritchie, Shelvey (C), Hayden, Diame, Gouffran, Yedlin, Mitrovic





Substitutes: Elliott, Lascelles, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez, Murphy, Ameobi

Carson, Baird, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Johnson, Bryson, Butterfield; Ince, Russell, BentMitchell, Christie, Shackell, Anya, de Sart, Camara, VydraTweets by @ dcfcofficial