Derby County will be aiming for just their second league win of the season on Wednesday night, when they host Cardiff City at Pride Park.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Rams did produce something of an improved performance last time out, looking a greater threat going forward and more solid at the back in Friday night's clash with local rivals Nottingham Forest.

That however, was still only enough to secure a draw for Phillip Cocu's side, meaning they still currently occupy a spot in the Championship relegation zone going into this week's games, something they will be looking to rectify as soon as possible.

So what sort of squad will Cocu have available to him as he looks to do that against Cardiff?

Here, we take a look at the latest Derby team news coming out of Pride Park ahead of that clash with the Bluebirds.

Jordon Ibe

Wednesday night's clash with Cardiff is one that will come too soon for Ibe as he continues his work towards full fitness.

Having not played a competitive game in over a year, the winger made a goalscoring return to action when featuring for Derby's Under 23s last week, playing the first half of a win over Southampton.

For now however, Ibe will continue to work with Derby's youth team, with his next outing set to be the Under 23s' game against West Ham on the 2nd November.

Krystian Bielik

Bielik was another to feature in that Under 23s game for Derby, his first outing since suffering a serious knee injury back in January.

The Poland international came through just over 60 minutes of the match, as he too looks to work his way back to full fitness.

Like Ibe however, it seems as though the clash with Cardiff will come too soon for Bielik, with Cocu commenting after that Under 23s game that the club will have to give the midfielder time to rediscover his rhythm.

Are these 12 Derby County statements genuine or not?

 

 

 

Wayne Rooney

For all the speculation there has been around Rooney in recent weeks, the veteran will once again be absent for Derby on Wednesday.

The England legend is still in a period of self-isolation for COVID reasons, although it has been confirmed that he is due to link back up with the Derby on Friday.

Bobby Duncan

Like Ibe, Duncan has yet to make a senior appearance for Derby since joining the Rams in the summer.

The young striker is seemingly still not up to full fitness, with coach Liam Rosenior revealing that the former Liverpool and Fiorentina man is struggling with "a couple of niggles and strains".

That however, does not appear to be too much of a cause for concern for Derby, with Rosenior explaining that those issues were expected, after a lack of training in recent months.

Martyn Waghorn

After a long spell on the sidelines, Waghorn marked his return to the Derby starting lineup in some style against Forest on Friday, opening the scoring with a stunning free kick.

Waghorn was substituted late on it that game, although it seems that is nothing to worry about for Derby, with Rosenior confirming that the striker returned to training on Tuesday where, worryingly for the rest of the Championship, he has apparently been practising his free kicks.

Nathan Byrne

Another player who was withdrawn late on against Forest after suffering a knock, Byrne could seemingly still feature against Cardiff on Wednesday.

The blow suffered by the right back at The City Ground is not said to be serious, and having been back in training since then, Byrne is seemingly in contention to face the club from the Welsh capital.