Jacob Butterfield returns to the Derby County starting line-up for this evening’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Preston North, kick-off: 7:45pm.

After beginning as a substitute in the last two games, the 26-year-old midfielder makes his return to replace Julien de Sart in a like-for-like swap in the matchday squad, as the Belgian Under 21 international drops to the bench.The only other changes sees Darren Bent hand Steve McClaren, the Derby boss, a boost by recovering from his illness to return to the substitutes bench, replacing Mason Bennett.That aside, McClaren has avoided making any further changes to the squad that defeated Barnsley 2-1 at Pride Park Stadium at the weekend.That is likely to mean the Rams will start in a similar shape to the one that was deployed, and worked so effectively, on Saturday.Scott Carson maintains his ever-present league record in goal and will have an unchanged back four of Cyrus Christie, Chris Baird, Alex Pearce and Marcus Olsson in front of him.Bradley Johnson and Jacob Butterfield partner each other in the middle of the park for the first time since the Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay clash with Leicester City at the beginning of February.Further ahead of them, Johnny Russell, Tom Ince and Matěj Vydra complete the attacking trio that will support David Nugent, who will lead the line against his former club.McClaren will have Jonathan Mitchell, Craig Bryson, Ikechi Anya, Darren Bent, Julien de Sart, Will Hughes and Abdoul Camara to call upon should he need them.Carson, Christie, Baird, Pearce (C), Olsson; Butterfield, Johnson; Russell, Vydra, Ince; NugentMitchell, Bryson, Anya, Bent, De Sart, Hughes, CamaraMaxwell, Cunningham, Pearson, Clarke (C), Gallagher, McGeady, Huntington, Boyle, Hugill, Barkhuizen, RobinsonLindegaard, Horgan, Browne, Makienok, Johnson, Spurr, MayTweets by @ dcfcofficial