May set for return

Last updated : 15 November 2003 By Tony Scholes

David May - set for return to side after injury
May came off at Watford at the end of September with a hamstring injury and it has ruled him out of the last seven matches, only one of which was won the first of them at home to Walsall.

He came through 45 minutes of a reserve team game in midweek against Sheffield United and looks all set to be named in the starting line up but will it be Arthur or Branchy who makes way?

Last time it was Arthur but the decision this time could be taken out of Stan’s hands with Branch struggling to make it after Arthur got in his way last week and forced him off with an ankle injury.

There’s been no talk of the flu bug this week so we can only presume that those who were going to get it have done so and have no shaken it off. Glen Little, like May, had a run out in the reserves whilst Robbie Blake should be OK after making the bench last week.

There are suggestions that Paul Weller is back in training but even so he is not yet ready for a return to the first team.

I suspect that May will replace Branch whilst Glen will come in with Gareth Farrelly the likely one to miss out and that leaves a question as to who will drop out for Robbie Blake. I suspect that could be Delroy Facey who himself is not fully fit.

So we could line up: Brian Jensen, Dean West, David May, Arthur Gnohere, Mo Camara, Glen Little, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Luke Chadwick, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore. Subs from: Lee Roche, Mark McGregor, Graham Branch, Gareth Farrelly, Joel Pilkington, Matt O’Neill, Delroy Facey.

Derby’s main doubt is loan player Peter Kennedy who has already scored against the Clarets this season for his club Wigan Athletic. He has had a hamstring injury but is expected to be passed fit as is Richard Jackson who has been out with illness.

Youngster Izale McLeod has been out injured but returned to goalscoring action with the reserves this week and is pushing for a place but that’s not the case with two players. Adam Murray has this week had his contract cancelled after suffering alcohol problems and the supposed recent Burnley target has now moved on to Chesterfield.

Steve Elliott was on the subs bench last week but has now signed a loan deal with Blackpool and he will have to be replaced.

The expected Derby line up is: Lee Grant, Richard Jackson, Youl Mawene, Michael Johnson, Peter Kennedy, Tom Huddlestone, Ian Taylor, Simo Valakari, Lee Holmes, Lee Morris, Danny Dichio. Subs from: Lee Camp, Paul Boertien, Pablo Mills, Candidio Costa, Marcus Tudgay, Izale McLeod.