Predicted Forest side to face Derby: Who will Warburton pick?

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Here is how we predict Nottingham Forest and Derby County will line-up ahead of their Championship clash this weekend.

To be played on Saturday 18th March 2017 at 13:00. Venue: City Ground, Nottingham

Odds: Forest 2/1, Draw 9/4, Derby 7/5

With both sides appointing new managers this week, the East Midlands derby between Nottingham Forest and Derby County takes on an even greater narrative.

The Rams hired Gary Rowett as the man to replace the sacked Steve McClaren, while Forest filled their vacant managerial position with former Rangers boss Mark Warburton; not hugely surprising considering Warburton’s past working relationship with new Director of Football at the City Ground, Frank McParland.

With the new men in charge, we may well be in line for an even more competitive derby clash than the usual fiery affair between the sides; perhaps further focused by the fact that new County boss Rowett reportedly spurned interest from Forest earlier last month.

Ahead of the game at Forest’s City Ground, Warburton is expected to deploy his more favoured 4-3-3 system with a greater emphasis on his full-backs providing the team’s width.

If this materialises, Forest fans may well see Eric Lichaj and Armand Traore take the roles, with Michael Mancienne and possibly Joe Worrall selected in central defence.

Warburton’s narrow set-ups usually enable a greater forward presence centrally, so do not be surprised if the former Brentford and Rangers boss selects Zach Clough, Ross McCormack and either Ben Brereton or Britt Assombalonga as part of a forward thinking approach.

Visitors Derby, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of defender Richard Keogh after a four-game absence with a calf injury.

Frustratingly for Keogh, the mini injury lay-off ended a run of 105 successive Championship starts for the 30-year-old.

Here are the predicted line-ups for both Nottingham Forest and Derby County in full: