Nottm Forest v Derby preview
Last Updated: September 16, 2011 1:28pm
Anderson: Fitness race for Forest
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Nottingham Forest and Derby at the City Ground (kick-off 1pm).
Nottingham Forest boss Steve McClaren is waiting on the fitness of a quartet of players.
Midfielders Paul Anderson (calf) and George Boateng and strikers Robbie Findley and Marcus Tudgay were all absent through injury as the Reds slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Southampton last weekend.
McClaren, a former assistant manager at Derby under Jim Smith in the late 1990s, will keep a close eye on their progress before finalising his squad.
Forest will definitely be without long-term absentees Dexter Blackstock and Gareth McCleary.
Derby will make a late decision on whether Nathan Tyson will face his former club.
The forward, who made the move along the A52 on a free transfer in the summer, has yet to play for the Rams after sustaining a groin injury during pre-season.
Tyson came through 60 minutes of a behind-closed-doors game against Leicester on Tuesday afternoon unscathed and scored in his side's 3-2 defeat. He is likely to be on the bench if he is included in the squad.
"We will see how he is but in the first three months of the season he has been available for about three weeks, so he has still got a bit of catching up to do," said manager Nigel Clough.
Steve Davies has been struggling with a back problem and could be rested, with Theo Robinson taking his place in the starting line-up at the City Ground.
James Bailey missed the defeat at Coventry last weekend after suffering an ankle injury in training and the midfielder is not expected to return until after the two-week international break in October.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
