Main option and more minutes - Derby County predicted XI vs Notts County in EFL Trophy clash

Derby County play their second EFL Trophy fixture this evening against League Two outfit Notts County.

The Rams will make the short trip coming off the back of a dissapointing 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town in League One on Saturday.

Paul Warne’s side won their first EFL Trophy game which came against Lincoln City at home two weeks ago when the Rams won 2-0.

They’ll face the Magpies at Meadow Lane before heading into the international break.

Manager Paul Warne has been changing between a 4-2-3-1 and 5-3-2 formation recently, however, because this game is not in the league, it is expected that Warne will use the match to help develop his 5-3-2 system that earnt him three promotions at Rotherham United.

Ahead of tonight’s clash, here is our predicted XI for Derby this evening.

Goalkeeper: Josh Vickers

It has been a tough couple of weeks for Vickers who lost his wife of three weeks to cancer two weeks ago. The goalkeeper signed for Derby in the summer from Rotherham United and is yet to make an appearance for the Rams.

Seeing as this is the EFL Trophy, it would be a good way to get Vickers some game time, but if he is still not able to play then Joe Wildsmith will start once again.

Defender: Eiran Cashin

Eiran Cashin is one of the Rams best players. It is likley that Warne won’t go with his usual partnership of Cashin and Nelson, but expect one of the two to play in tonight’s game. So, due to his good performances and youth, Cashin has been given the nod here.

Defender: Sonny Bradley

Sonny Bradley has been a disspointing signing so far. He came with high expectations from fans but has struggled to get into the first team due to a number of mistake-prone performances.

Tonight’s EFL Trophy game will provide a good chance for Bradley to get more minutes in and try to prove what he can do.

Defender: Ryan Nyambe

Ryan Nyambe has shown his versatility since joining Derby last month. He can play both at full back and in a back three so he should be on the team sheet regardless of what formation Warne will choose tonight.

Nyambe has been fantastic so far and he’ll be looking to add to his impressive performances if he appears tonight.

Left wing: Craig Forsyth

Derby’s veteran defender has also shown good versatility either playing at centre back or bombing down the wing in a wing-back role such as what he’s been doing when Warne has chosen the 3-5-2 formation.

Expect to see him again tonight as the Rams’ other left-sided defender Callum Elder is suffering with an injury and Forsyth will be the main option available.

Right wing: Kane Wilson

Kane Wilson has looked good so far in a Derby shirt. He’s been playing the wing-back role when Warne has used the 3-5-2 system. If he does so tonight then expect to see Wilson line up to further gain experience playing in black and white since joining from Brisol City in the summer.

Centre midfield: Tyrese Fornah

Tyrese Fornah has been getting better and better since joining from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window.

Fornah has built a good relationship with the likes of Korey Smith in midfield and it is likely that he will appear again tonight against Notts County due to the Rams’ limited options in midfield.

Centre midfield: Conor Hourihane

It is likely that Paul Warne won’t play both of his star midfielders in the EFL Trophy fixture tonight. Those two being Max Bird and Conor Hourihane.

Hourihane has not started a game since he returned from his hamstring injury last week. So it is likely that Warne will select the Rams captain to give him more game time before the international break.

Centre midfield: Korey Smith

Korey Smith has put in a couple of good performances recently including scoring a goal against Blackpool last Tuesday. The midfielder will expect to start again tonight due to the Rams lack of depth in midfield because of injury issues and international selection.

Striker: Martyn Waghorn

Martyn Waghorn or James Collins will likely start yet Warne is unlikely to select both strikers if he plays the 3-5-2 formation and so we’ve gone with Waghorn here who has had slightly less minutes recently compared to Collins who has started the majority of games.

Striker: Tom Barkhuizen

Tom Barkhuizen has been getting more and more minutes since he rejoined after he preseason injury. Barkhuizen could do with more experience playing up front for the Rams, especially if Warne wants to implement his 3-5-2 system onto Derby.

He scored in Derby’s opening EFL Trophy game against Lincoln City and will be looking to add to his tournament tally here.