Town boss Mick McCarthy has included Tyrone Mings and Jack Marriott in the squad travelling to Derby for tomorrow’s game against the managerless Rams. With Mings over the knee injury he suffered at Reading on the opening day, the Blues manager has a fully fit squad.
McCarthy confirmed that Mings, who played for the U21s at West Ham on Friday, will be making the trip: "Everybody’s fine and Tyrone is travelling, he’ll be in the squad.”
He says 19-year-old frontman Marriott will again be in the travelling party and is likely to be the second striker amongst the subs with Alan Lee remaining behind: "Jack Marriott is in the squad. It’s good experience for him. He’s been before, he’s had to stand up and sing his song.”
McCarthy doesn’t know whether the Derby side he faces will differ from the one fielded by Nigel Clough in his final game, Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to local rivals Nottingham Forest.
"I’ve no idea, I haven’t got a clue,” he admitted. "I see the rest of the coaching staff are all doing their gardens, they’re on gardening leave.
"Steve McClaren, if he takes over, will he be in charge or will he sit above and watch it? Is it a bit too soon to have any influence? Probably. I don’t know if he’s got the job yet, he doesn’t just turn around like that a sign a contract.
"And if it’s someone from the reserves or youth team, which has been suggested [academy manager Darren Wassell is the Rams’ interim manager], you never know.
"Some people try and change it and do something and get a result and it’s always there on their CV. I haven’t got a clue, but it won’t change us because we’ll be doing exactly the same.”
McClaren, a former Rams assistant boss, is at Pride Park this afternoon for talks about the manager's job.
On his arrival, he said: "I'm just going in to have a quick chat with them. Great coming back. It's good to be back and hopefully things will work out."
Derby have added former Norwich centre-half Zak Whitbread on loan from Leicester City with ex-Town academy schoolboy and ballboy Richard Keogh suspended for one game due to his weekend red card.