Darren Bent makes his first league start since Derby County’s meeting with Blackburn Rovers for today’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, kick-off: 3pm.

The 32-year-old, who has scored in his last two home meetings against the Owls, replaces Matěj Vydra to lead the line today and forms as one of two changes from the starting XI that lost 1-0 at Huddersfield Town a week ago.

Jamie Hanson also comes into the Rams’ midfield for his first senior appearance of the season and first since March last campaign.

The academy graduate replaces the suspended Will Hughes today.

The only other change to the matchday squad comes on the substitutes’ bench as Max Lowe returns to the squad for today’s clash with Carlos Carvalhal’s team.

Scott Carson retains his 100 per cent record of starting every league game by starting in goal and has a back four of Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce and Marcus Olsson in front of him.

Today will see Christie, the 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international full back, make his 100th start for Derby since joining the club from Coventry City in the summer of 2014.

Hanson joins the Rams’ midfield alongside Jacob Butterfield and Bradley Johnson.

Tom Ince and Johnny Russell retain their positions on the flanks and will support Bent, who leads the line for Steve McClaren’s men.

Jonathan Mitchell, Ikechi Anya, Chris Baird, Vydra, Andreas Weimann, Lowe and Farrend Rawson are named in reserve at the iPro Stadium.

Chris Powell, Derby’s assistant manager, spoke to RamsTV to review today’s team news ahead of the home clash with the Owls.

Derby County: Carson, Christie, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Hanson, Butterfield, Johnson; Ince, Russell, Bent

Substitutes: Mitchell, Anya, Baird, Vydra, Weimann, Lowe Rawson

Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson, Jones, Lee, Reach, Hooper, Lees (C), Palmer, Hutchinson, Pudil, Bannan, Forestieri

Substitutes: Kean, Fletcher, Abdi, Semedo, Hunt, Wallace, Nuhiu