Saturday’s home clash with in-form Derby sees Town defender Christophe Berra face his Scotland team-mate Chris Martin, a striker he says he rates very highly.

Rams’ nine-goal top scorer Martin is certain to receive his usual warm welcome from Town fans because of his past association with arch-rivals Norwich.

“He’s one of the best in this league at being up there on his own,” Berra said of his international team-mate.

“He’s strong, a real handful and he’s got a good touch, while over the past two or three seasons I think he’s scored 20-plus goals a season. He’s definitely one to watch but he’s not the only one in that team.

“It’s another big game and every time we have played Derby in my time with Ipswich it has been a big game. They have a big squad, more so this season after spending a bit of money, and they’ve got strength in depth.

“They have to deal with high expectations because after the money they have spent they should be up there and they won’t be looking forward to coming to Portman Road.

“It will be another game where we will have to be right on blog to get a win. Hopefully we’ll have a bit of luck as well.

“Derby are a big club with big players and they have signed several good players as well. I’m sure they will also have a big wage bill and there are massive expectations on them.

“It’s a bit of added pressure on them but they seem to be coping okay so far — they’ve been doing well and they had a good 4-0 home win over Bristol City in midweek. They will be coming here confident — just like we are right now.”

Berra may be without a goal this season but he has found the net in three of his last four appearances against the Rams, including a dramatic last-minute winner in Town’s 2-1 win over them at Portman Road in March 2014.

The ex-Wolves defender added: “It’s a good record and it would be great to continue it on Saturday but I think the main thing is getting the three points or at least not getting beaten and putting in a good performance.

“I’ve not really had any chances to score this season so it would be great to break my duck and get back on the scoresheet. But first and foremost it’s about getting the win, picking up three more points and putting in a performance.

“I’m disappointed I haven’t scored this season because in the past two seasons I’ve scored five and then six. But while I’d like to score the main thing is that the team does well and gets three points. I would take us winning every week instead of me scoring.”

Meanwhile, Berra has been encouraged by the recent form displayed by Danish summer signing Jonas Knudsen, who has slotted into the left-back role vacated by Tyrone Mings when he completed an £8 million pre-season move to Premier League newcomers Bournemouth.

Berra said: “In the last two or three games he’s really come on to it, especially the attacking part of his game. He’s been getting up the pitch more and putting crosses in.

“He’s still young and it’s difficult when you come from a foreign country to a style of football with a completely different tempo and you also have to take into consideration that he has moved away from his family. Jonas has adapted really well and I would say it’s a case of so far, so good.

“I’m not like Chambo, who does a lot of shouting. I’m more the type to organise the people around me — the full-backs and midfielders — and then get on with my game.

“Obviously, I will speak to Jonas throughout the game and if I need cover I will give him a bit of advice or let him know how he should do something better, like everyone else does.”

Photo: Action Images

Martus added 08:17 - Dec 18 But Berra is one of the best defenders in this league. . . . . . . . I mean seriously, i cant remember the lost time he lost a header. He's the best defender I've seen at Ipswich in a long time. But against the MK Dons, he was doing a lot of talking to Knudsen, and looked like he was shouting at him a lot and getting frustrated with him. Knudsen still needs some work to do in his defensive game, but there's no better defender to learn from than Christophe.

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GerkensBeard added 09:17 - Dec 18 Knudsen's performance have improved the last couple of games and it is clearly noticeable he's getting forward alot more now. But I'm seriously worried about this weekend for him as I Tom Ince will tear him a new one!
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BackTheBlues added 10:09 - Dec 18 @Martus - I agree with you that he is one of the best defenders in the league on his day... but he is a shadow of the man he was last season. Got to say the best defender we've had this season is Tommy!
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MVBlue added 10:28 - Dec 18 Derby are a big test, and after seeing the home game against them in January, martin only needed one chance in a scrappy game. We were 1 and 2 when they visited last season, and out form went terrible after the loss. Revenge would be excellent but a counter attacking draw would be acceptable.
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Martus added 11:44 - Dec 18 @BackTheBlues Ithough Berra was immense last season, and looks just as solid this one in my opinion, especially in recent games. We are a little more open this season, due to a slighly different style of play, which has made the deffence a little more suspect. But i think he is not the one looking dodgy. Tommy i still feel is the week link, and would prefer Chambers alongside Berra. I do like Tommy, but he always has me feeling on edge whenever the ball is played to him. He is a good defender and sometimes has his dodgy moments, especially vs Middlesborough, but still isn't what a called a "footballer". He isn't comfortable with the ball when its played to him, and that will always make me nervous.

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