Tom Lawrence in line for Rams return

Posted Friday, November 22, 2019 by PA

Tom Lawrence is poised to figure in Derby’s Sky Bet Championship clash with second-placed Preston at Pride Park.

Lawrence missed the conclusion to Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifying campaign through illness, but is now well again, according to manager Phillip Cocu.

Cocu, though, remains without a number of key players, including defender Matthew Clarke who is expected to be out for a few weeks with a knee injury suffered early in the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest just before the international break.

Defender Scott Malone (knee) and midfielders Tom Huddlestone (knee) and Ikechi Anya (calf) remain sidelined.

Midfielder Ben Pearson returns to the Preston squad for the game.

Pearson is available after serving a one-match ban in the 3-1 home win over Huddersfield, having picked up five yellow cards.

Fellow midfielder Daniel Johnson is also set to be included after sitting out the victory over the Terriers with a foot injury.

The game comes too soon, though, for defender Tom Clarke and midfielder Josh Harrop as they close in on returns from a knee injury and a recurrence of a hamstring problem respectively.