Team news

Green to drop into defence Midfielder Paul Green will fill in at right-back once again when Derby host midlands rivals Leicester.

John Brayford returned to the position against Southampton at the weekend but had to be withdrawn after 58 minutes after suffering another thigh injury.

Scans have since revealed the severity of the tear to Brayford's thigh muscle and he could miss the remainder of the season.

Green's absence in midfield means Jamie Ward will probably play wide on the left against the Foxes after partnering Nathan Tyson in attack at St Mary's.

Steve Davies, Theo Robinson and Callum Ball will compete with Tyson to fill the two striker roles for the televised clash on Thursday evening.

Danny Drinkwater could be included in the Leicester squad for the short trip.

The foot injury that Drinkwater suffered against Watford eight days ago has not proved to be serious and the former Manchester United midfielder has resumed training.

Manager Nigel Pearson left captain Matt Mills and fellow defender Paul Konchesky out of the starting XI against Norwich last weekend and saw his side beat the Premier League club 2-1 to reach the FA Cup sixth round. They will be hoping for recalls.

Centre-half Sol Bamba will be in contention for the televised clash following his return from the African Nations Cup but full-back John Pantsil has been given extended leave because of a family bereavement.

Forward Paul Gallagher will remain sidelined with the hamstring injury that ruled him out against Norwich.

Derby vs Leicester

Last modified 22:07 23/02/12

Foxes see off Rams Neil Danns' first-half strike helped Leicester to a 1-0 win as they inflicted a third successive npower Championship defeat on east midlands rivals Derby.

The Foxes, who reached the last eight of the FA Cup with victory at Norwich last weekend, were well worth the three points and only Derby goalkeeper Frankie Fielding stopped the visitors from running riot at Pride Park.

He was beaten by Danns' first-half side-footed volley but the influential midfielder was thwarted twice thereafter by Fielding.

The former Blackburn keeper also produced an excellent save from David Nugent's header after the interval to set up a tense finale.

Try as Derby might however, they lacked a cutting edge up front and only Nathan Tyson looked threatening as they drew a blank for the fourth successive match.

Lloyd Dyer nearly doubled his side's lead as he struck the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds in the closing stages but the Foxes comfortably held on to complete the double over their opponents.

The visitors looked like they would be in for a tough game as Tyson's strike from just outside the area forced Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to make a save after just 15 seconds.

It was all Leicester for the remainder of the half, however.

Jason Shackell's block denied Jermaine Beckford after the striker had twisted and turned his way into the area.

Fielding then did well to parry away an effort from Danns and soon after the Leicester midfielder was hacked down by Jamie Ward, who may have been fortunate to escape with just a yellow card following a studs-up, over the ball challenge.

Danns would have his revenge as he broke the deadlock and gave the Foxes a deserved 16th-minute lead.

Dyer outstripped full-back Paul Green on the left and his cross to the back post produced a controlled volley from Danns that went across Fielding, who could only paw the ball into the net.

Danns continued to make a menace of himself and after being given plenty of room by Derby's defenders, he unleashed a 25-yard strike that was superbly tipped onto the post by Fielding.

The 29-year-old was once again given too much space and his left-footed strike from a similar distance forced Fielding to make the save.

Leicester could not make their dominance count with a goal and they were nearly made to pay in the early stages of the second half.

The ball ricocheted to Green in acres of space in the box but by the time he had it under control, Leicester's defenders were able to charge him down and block the shot.

Tyson's left-footed strike from the edge of the area only narrowly missed Schmeichel's left-hand post as the hosts continued to search for a goal.

They were nearly caught out, however, as David Nugent's header at the front post from Ben Marshall's corner was magnificently palmed onto the crossbar by Fielding.