Derby County travel to promotion rivals Norwich City this weekend.
Derby County will be hoping to bounce back from their Boxing Day defeat to Sheffield United but they couldn’t have asked for a tougher fixture with Norwich City on the longest unbeaten run in the Championship.
The Canaries have been excellent this season, and they haven’t been beaten since early October, winning nine and drawing three of their last 12 league games.
Derby, meanwhile, have slumped over the past ten days with draws against Nottingham Forest and Bristol City followed by a defeat at Bramall Lane to promotion rivals Sheffield United.
The Rams have injuries to contend with, but Frank Lampard’s side have worryingly run out of steam a bit and with just eight goals in their last eight games they’re beginning to struggle in the final third.
Derby’s trip to Norwich, therefore, could be the catalyst for some much-needed changes to freshen things up and midfielder George Evans, fit again from a lengthy injury, could make just his second start of the season.
Moreover, Evans being more defensive-minded alongside Tom Huddlestone could give the Rams a better foothold in midfield as they will have to keep tabs on Norwich duo Moritz Leitner and Todd Cantwell.
Scott Malone should come back in at left-back after missing the game against the Blades, while Martyn Waghorn must start with the former Ipswich Town man capable of producing something out of nothing in the final third.
With Tom Lawrence still nursing an injury, Derby are lacking a bit of creativity in the final third but against Norwich, Lampard may be happy to soak up pressure and hit them on the counter attack with Jack Marriott and Harry Wilson capable of causing the Norfolk side’s high-line problems.
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