Nigel Pearson has made one change to the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Bristol City last weekend for today’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers, kick-off: 3pm.

James Wilson, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, misses out this afternoon with a minor knee injury – meaning Darren Bent makes his first league start since the trip to Barnsley last month.

From Tuesday’s night’s meeting with Liverpool in the EFL Cup, this afternoon’s team shows four changes.

Cup-tied for that game with the Reds, summer signings Matěj Vydra and Ikechi Anya return to the starting line-up this afternoon.

Craig Bryson also returns to the side after being rested in midweek, whilst Scott Carson, ill earlier this week, replaces Jonathan Mitchell in goal to make his 50th appearance for the Rams after also missing the fixture against Jürgen Klopp’s side on Tuesday.

Today will also see Cyrus Christie makes his 100th Derby appearance since he signed from Coventry City in the summer of 2014.

The 23-year-old maintains his record of having started every Sky Bet Championship fixture this season and maintains his position at right back for this afternoon’s meeting with Blackburn.

Alongside him, Republic of Ireland international duo, Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce, continue to partner each other at centre back, whilst Marcus Olsson completes the back four by lining up at left back.

Jacob Butterfield, Bryson, Will Hughes and Anya make up the midfield and will support Vydra, the Czech Republic international, and Bent up front.

Young Slovenian midfielder, Timi Max Elsnik, is also named on the substitutes bench and takes his place alongside Mitchell, Tom Ince, Chris Baird, Bradley Johnson, Nick Blackman and Andreas Weimann in reserve.

Rams Player HD subscribers can watch an exclusive interview with Chris Powell, Derby's assistant manager, who spoke with us to discuss this afternoon's team selection.





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Derby County: Carson, Christie, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Butterfield, Bryson, Hughes, Anya; Vydra, Bent

Substitutes: Mitchell, Ince, Baird, Johnson, Blackman, Weimann, Elsnik

Blackburn Rovers: Steele, Greer, Hoban, Williams, Lowe (C), Marshall, Emnes, Gallagher, Guthrie, Evans, Conway

Substitutes: Raya, Feeney, Graham, Samuelsen, Akpan, Lenihan, Brown





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