Rams hope for Shackell boost

Jason Shackell: Suffered a hip injury against Middlesbrough but should be fit to face Portsmouth

Derby County manager Nigel Clough is optimistic Jason Shackell will recover from a hip injury to be fit for Saturday's game against Portsmouth.

Shackell has started every game in the Championship for the Rams since his summer move from Barnsley, but strained a hip flexor during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

He was eventually forced off in the second half after Clough decided he did not want to risk aggravating the defender's injury further.

"Jason felt it after about half an hour and he was struggling at half-time, so once the second goal went in there was no point risking him," said Clough.

"We hope he will be OK for Portsmouth."

Another of the Rams' central defenders, Russell Anderson, missed the game at the Riverside with a tight hamstring, having started the previous two matches at right-back in place of the injured John Brayford.

Clough added: "Russell felt his hamstring tighten in training. If he had played and it had gone, we would have been without him longer. We hope he will also be OK for Portsmouth."