Derby County host Middlesbrough on Saturday looking to get back on track after the Rams suffered a 2-0 defeat at Hull City last time out, which saw Philip Cocu’s side lose a second successive match away from home and lose more ground on the division’s pace setters.

The Rams, though, have secured three successive home wins in the Championship, beating Wigan Athletic, Luton Town and Birmingham City and Derby will be looking to extend their winning run on home soil to regain some momentum.

Currently sat in 16^th place in the table, Cocu’s side will be aiming to secure a fourth successive home league victory to push them further up the table, as they look to climb the table and kick on in the next few months of the campaign.

Saturday’s opponents Middlesbrough, are in poor form themselves, with Jonathan Woodgate’s side dropping into the Championship’s bottom three following successive goalless draws against Fulham and Huddersfield Town, and Boro have managed to win just two of their opening 14 matches as they struggle to adapt to their new manager’s methods – and it will be interesting to see if Cocu’s side can take advantage of their visitor’s poor form.

Here, we take a look at the XI we think Cocu should select for the game against Middlesbrough on Saturday…

Having preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation in most of the Rams matches so far this campaign, it is likely that Cocu will select that shape again against Middlesbrough, although there is the option to revert to a 4-3-3 if the Dutchman feels a change in shape is necessary to get his side back to winning ways.

Kelle Roos will almost certainly start in goal, and the 27-year-old will be aiming to record a third successive clean-sheet at home, and fourth in total this season, with the keeper performing well in the Rams’ last match on home soil making some important saves in the win against Wigan.

Having preferred Max Lowe at left-back to Scott Malone last weekend, Cocu will probably be wanting to give Lowe the chance to retain his place in the side, while Jayden Bogle should once again start at right-back, while Curtis Davies and Matt Clarke are expected to once again start together at the heart of the Rams’ defence.

Cocu could call on George Evans who is set to make a return from injury against Middlesbrough, but he will likely start on the bench, with the pairing of Graeme Shinnie, who scored the winner against Wigan in the Rams’ last home match, and Krystian Bielik once again likely to start at the base of midfield.

Derby have a few selection headaches in terms of who starts in their attack, with Tom Lawrence expected to keep his place on the left-hand side and Duane Holmes from the right, but the number ten position could prove the challenge, with Kieran Dowell starting there last week but Cocu could decide to recall Martyn Waghorn in that position against Middlesbrough.

Chris Martin should retain his place up front for Derby having replaced Waghorn from the start at Hull last time out, with Jack Marriott an option from the bench – and the Rams will be hopeful that they can get back to winning ways and maintain their strong recent home form.