Sam Baldock starts: The predicted Derby County XI to face Preston North End this weekend | OneFootball

It’ll be another tricky tie for Derby County to try and manoeuvre this weekend but the side have been performing tremendously well over the last few weeks and could certainly pick up another vital win at Deepdale this weekend.

Wayne Rooney may be dealing with a club that is having a number of off-field problems (which is now carrying over to the football side of things, thanks to a lack of players and a hefty points deduction) but he has got them playing to the peak of their powers right now and with a lot of solidity.

The Rams picked up a draw against Swansea in their last game and have also beaten Reading and Stoke, both of who are near the top end of the Championship table. If he can get his rather youthful side playing to that standard again on Saturday, then it could go a long way to helping them bag another three points.

They’ll be eager to add to that total as much as possible and having now taken it back into positive figures, they’re well on their way to trying to escape relegation now. Rooney will have some thinking to do in terms of who he should play to get the best possible result but it’s certainly doable for the former Man United player.

There will likely be a few changes to the Rams side that claimed that 0-0 draw against Swansea, with a few players unavailable and a few back in training and available for selection.

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Nathan Byrne will have to miss out through suspension, so that means the club will need a right-back to stand in. With no experienced players in that position to choose from, they could turn to Kornell MacDonald as they have done in the past. He’s only young but has featured on several occasions for the side previously and could step in here.

Richard Stearman is available and will be likely kept in, as he was part of the backline that kept that clean sheet against the Swans. The only other change to the lineup that ground out that draw could be up front.

Jack Stretton has looked bright and there will be plenty more to see of him as the season goes on but with Sam Baldock back to fitness – and usually preferred by Rooney too – the youngster could drop bac to the bench for the more experienced forward. If Stretton gets a cameo and bags a goal or looks more impressive though, then expect his boss to start to select him more over the next couple of games.