Johnny Russell returns to the Derby County starting line-up for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship clash away at Aston Villa, kick-off: 3pm.

The 26-year-old returns to the matchday fold after recovering from a hamstring injury, coming straight back into the starting XI in place of Ikechi Anya, who drops to the substitutes bench.There is also a recall for Craig Bryson, who has missed the last two games, and Chris Baird, who celebrates his 35th birthday today, and the duo take their place on the substitutes bench.Notably, Mason Bennett is named in a first team matchday squad for the first time this season after a string of impressive displays for Darren Wassall’s Under 23s squad over the last two months.There is, however, no place in the matchday 18 for the injured Jason Shackell and Nick Blackman, as well as Bradley Johnson due to personal reasons and also Abdoul Camara and Matěj Vydra.Jacob Butterfield will make his 200th career start at Villa Park this afternoon.Steve McClaren’s side show two former Villa players in the starting line-up with Scott Carson and Darren Bent set to face their former club in the West Midlands.From back to front, Carson remains in goal for the Rams and will have an unchanged back four in front of him.Cyrus Christie makes his second consecutive start in the right full back position, whilst Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce and Max Lowe complete the Derby backline.Julien de Sart starts for the third successive fixture in the holding midfield role, with Jacob Butterfield and Will Hughes being deployed in the advanced positions.Tom Ince takes up his place on the right flank for the 24th consecutive league fixture, whilst Johnny Russell will play on the opposite flank – supporting Darren Bent, who leads the line on his old stomping ground.McClaren, the Derby boss, will have Jonathan Mitchell, Craig Bryson, Ikechi Anya, Chris Baird, David Nugent, Marcus Olsson and Mason Bennett to call upon this afternoon.Johnstone, Baker, Taylor, Lansbury, Bacuna, Chester (C), Green, Hutton, Jedinak, Kodjia, AdomahBunn, Elphick, Bree, Bjarnason, Gardner, Amavi, GrealishCarson, Christie, Keogh (C), Pearce, Lowe; de Sart, Butterfield, Hughes; Ince, Russell, BentMitchell, Bryson, Anya, Baird, Nugent, Olsson, BennettTweets by @ dcfcofficial