Derby County travel to Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup fifth round.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard has an interesting call to make this weekend as his side travel to Brighton and Hove Albion looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Rams have already played Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea and Southampton away from home in cup competitions this season, faring well by winning two of them on penalties.
Derby made changes for the Championship fixture in midweek at Ipswich Town, with a 1-1 draw keeping the East Midlands club just outside the play-off positions in seventh with a game in hand.
Lampard’s team selection at Ipswich drew criticism from some supporters as they felt he played a weakened side with one eye on the clash at Brighton; therefore there is pressure for Derby to perform at the Amex Stadium.
Key players Mason Mount and Jack Marriott are still absent through injury, while Harry Wilson was also withdrawn at Portman Road with what looked like a knock so he may not make the starting XI.
Derby’s back five will likely be unchanged, but influential midfielder Tom Huddlestone will surely return to the starting line-up after missing out at Ipswich with Bradley Johnson coming in.
Huddlestone joined Derby from Hull for a reported £2 million fee in 2017. His influence is evident, with Lampard’s side posting a higher points-per-game average with him sitting in that holding midfield role.
With Wilson likely to miss out, Duane Holmes and Craig Bryson should make up the midfield to add some energy in there and that leaves a spot free out on the wing.
Florian Jozefzoon would be the natural choice, yet academy graduate Mason Bennett looked lively as a late substitute at Ipswich and seems the more fancied of the two.
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