Derby V Huddersfield at Pride Park Stadium - Match Preview




Robinson returns for Rams

Leading scorer Theo Robinson is expected to return to the Derby squad when they resume npower Championship action at home to Huddersfield.

Robinson missed last weekend's FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Blackburn due to a bout of tonsilitis, but the nine-goal striker resumed training on Tuesday.

"Theo felt unwell last Friday and the doctor saw him and diagnosed tonsillitis straight away, so we were without him against Blackburn - which was a blow," said Rams boss Nigel Clough, who reported no new problems following the 3-0 loss to Rovers.

"He has trained, he is still not 100% but he was out there. He hasn't shown any ill-effects, but we'll continue to monitor him closely in the lead up to Saturday.

"If all goes according to plan, he will be back in the squad at the weekend."

Huddersfield are likely to be without striker Jermaine Beckford.

Beckford, on loan from Leicester, stepped off the substitutes' bench in the closing stages of the midweek win over Crystal Palace and lasted only three minutes before being withdrawn again due to a hamstring problem.

Caretaker managers Mark Lillis and Steve Eyre, taking charge of their third game since the sacking of Simon Grayson last week, have no other new injury or suspension problems and could be boosted by the return to contention of Chris Atkinson (thigh), who has missed the last five matches.

Fellow midfielder Keith Southern and winger Danny Ward remain sidelined with respective Achilles and foot injuries.

Defender Joel Lynch (hamstring) is closing in on a return to action after a five-game absence and midfielder Oscar Gobern, yet to appear this season following ankle surgery in the summer, is expected to be back in contention in the next couple of weeks.

Source: PA

Source: PA