Derby County’s Under-21s will return to Premier League Cup action when they host AFC Bournemouth on Monday evening.
The Under-21s will take on the Cherries at Moor Farm Training Ground after the pitch at Loughborough University Stadium was frozen due to the recent cold weather and dcfc.co.uk has brought together all the key information you will need to know ahead of the game (7pm kick-off).
Premier League Cup Format...
Mirroring the format of the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League Cup consists of eight four-team groups, with each club playing their opposing teams both home and away.
The Premier League Cup campaign includes Academies from Categories 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Clubs in the third and fourth categories have been competing in qualifiers to join the top-level Academies in the group stage.
Derby County are in Group B alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, AFC Bournemouth and Queens Park Rangers and the full fixture list can be found here.
Team News...
Defender Max Bardell could feature for the Under-21s to increase his match minutes after recently returning from a hamstring issue.
Will Grewal-Pollard, Connor Dixon, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Joe Haigh and Darren Robinson have all been sidelined in recent weeks owing to injury. Robinson has returned to training after an ankle problem and could play some part.
Jake Rooney, Kwaku Oduroh and Osazee Aghatise could get match minutes after recently being in-and-around the first-team set-up while a number of senior players returned from injury. The trio all took part in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Third Round win at Graham Street Prims last week and could be involved once more.
Pre-Match Thoughts...
Under-21s boss Pat Lyons sat down with RamsTV to offer his thoughts ahead of Monday's match against the Cherries.
Under-21s defender Max Bardell also sat down with RamsTV to discuss his recent return to action from a long-term hamstring issue.
2022/23 Premier League Cup So Far...
Derby County’s Under-21s have four points to their name from their four Premier League Cup group matches so far this season.
Their group campaign started with a 2-1 loss at AFC Bournemouth in late September, despite taking the lead through defender Harrison Solomon's early goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Pat Lyons' side picked up their first point a few days later as they played out a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Loughborough University Stadium with on-loan Chelsea midfielder Joe Haigh scoring late on for the Rams.
A 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at Loughborough University Stadium saw the Rams pick up their second point of the group stages. They went behind late on to the Seagulls but Cian Kelly-Caprani’s goal deep into added time, direct from a corner, salvaged a late point.
Lyons’ side picked up their first win of the Premier League Cup campaign last time out by securing a 2-0 success at Queens Park Rangers.Bartosz Cybulski and Harrison Solomon’s first half strikes were enough to fire the Rams to victory.
To view the Under-21s' full 2022/23 fixture list, please click here.
Live Stream...
RamsTV are showing the Premier League Cup encounter live for supporters to watch online on the club's YouTube Channel and also on Facebook.
Coverage will start at 6:45pm, while Match Highlights will also be made available following the conclusion of the game.