Derby County face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day.
Derby County travel to Sheffield United on Boxing Day to kick-start a run of four league matches which could define their season, as they seek to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
The Rams face back-to-back away games against the Blades and second-placed Norwich City, before hosting fellow promotion rivals Middlesbrough, and then head to Elland Road to face current Championship leaders Leeds United.
Derby’s last run of playing consecutive Championship promotion rivals saw them gain seven points from three games, including a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Pride Park.
Craig Bryson and Jack Marriott were the goal scorers for Derby on that day, and manager Frank Lampard may bring them both back in for the trip to Yorkshire, having started the last game against Bristol City on the bench.
Marriott has been a revelation since signing in the summer from Peterborough United for a reported £3 million rising to £5 million (Sky Sports), scoring six goals and grabbing two assists in ten league starts. The 24-year-old has been one of the best buys of the season. It’s likely Lampard rested him against Bristol City in order to keep him fresh for the next batch of difficult games.
Bryson, meanwhile, also missed out, but he could be brought back in as his energy levels would prove key. Lampard will want somebody to press Blades ace Oliver Norwood at all times, and Bryson is ideal for this role.
The Scotland international’s inclusion, though, would see Harry Wilson pushed out wide again, and that means another summer signing, Florian Jozefzoon, could be dropped back to the bench for this one.
Here is how we believe Derby County will line-up:
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