Young defender Lewin Nyatanga is eyeing a return to the Derby first team after enjoying a successful loan spell at Barnsley.
The 19-year-old was allowed to moved out on loan to Oakwell in order to gain some first-team experience, helping the Tykes into the top half of the Championship table.
Nayatanga joined Barnsley in July and has not missed a game for the Yorkshire club, making a big impact and staking a claim for a chance in the Premier League.
The Wales international's spell at Barnsley will expire on January 1, and the young star has admitted that he is keen to head back to Pride Park and battle for a first team place.
Nayatanga admitted to Sheffield Star: "Derby are the club that I was brought up with, they're the club I'm contracted to."
22 October 2007
Hull will hand late fitness tests to Jay Jay Okocha and Caleb Folan before naming their side to take on Barnsley tonight.
Okocha is still struggling with a stomach injury while Folan has suffered a slight setback with his foot problem and could be forced to miss out.
Henrik Pedersen (knee) and captain Ian Ashbee (suspension) are definitely out as boss Phil Brown targets three points following the defeat at Watford on Saturday.
"Our run of form is simply not good enough at all," Brown said. "With the squad we have, it's not acceptable. Words have been said in the changing room after the game and we've got the opportunity to put it right in a Yorkshire derby. It's vital we take points from every game and we can't keep on saying and doing the same things. It's a very big game tonight but then every game is a big one."
10 October 2007
Keith Gillespie has been named in Northern Ireland's squad for the team's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden on Wednesday.
Gillespie was fined after an altercation with George McCartney prior to the team's flight back from Iceland last month and is named in a 19-man party, despite missing Sheffield United's defeat to Bristol City at the weekend through injury.
Luton midfielder Stephen Robinson has also been included by Nigel Worthington – Robinson won the last of his six caps against Azerbaijan in 2005.
After disappointing back-to-back defeats in Latvia and Iceland last month, the Northern Irish lie third in Group F, three points behind leaders Sweden and Spain.
The full squad:
Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Alan Mannus (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Celtic); Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Tony Capaldi (Cardiff), George McCartney (West Ham), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Gareth McAuley (Leicester); Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United), Steven Davis (Fulham), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Grant McCann (Barnsley), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Stephen Robinson (Luton Town), Steve Jones (Burnley); David Healy (Fulham), Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Ivan Sproule (Bristol City)
05 October 2007
Charlton manager Alan Pardew will be forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for the visit of Barnsley.
The Addicks' appeal against Lloyd Sam's sending-off during Tuesday's 2-1 win at Hull was turned down by the FA, so the young winger starts a three-match ban.
Pardew has named the same starting XI for the past four Championship games but must now find a replacement on the right flank.
Darren Ambrose would be an obvious candidate, but he pulled a hamstring during the recent Carling Cup clash at Luton and remains doubtful so Jerome Thomas, who has been out in the cold of late, could be recalled.
Elsewhere, Ben Thatcher (knee) is still struggling so Chris Powell will continue at left-back, while fit-again Yassin Moutaouakil (ankle) will once again challenge Danny Mills for the right-back berth.
Svetoslav Todorov is pushing for a start ahead of Luke Varney and Chris Iwelumo in attack.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey is expected to name an unchanged side as the Tykes look to extend their five-match unbeaten run.
Davey has no new injury or suspension problems to contend with and is unlikely to change a winning line-up following the comprehensive midweek victory over previously unbeaten Bristol City.
Hungarian striker Istvan Ferenczi remains sidelined due to the ankle injury he sustained in last Saturday's home draw with Cardiff, so Davey must choose between Peruvian Miguel Mostto or Dane Kim Christensen again to partner Kayode Odejayi.
Rob Kozluk will be hoping for a recall at full-back after recently losing his place to fit-again Dominik Werling and Martin Devaney could play a more prominent role after stepping off the bench to score a late goal on Tuesday.
01 October 2007
Barnsley will be without injured striker Istvan Ferenczi for the visit of Bristol City on Tuesday.
The Hungarian sprained an ankle during the 1-1 draw with Cardiff on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks.
Peruvian Miguel Mostto, who replaced Ferenczi, will vie with Dane Kim Christensen for a starting place alongside Kayode Odejayi.
German defender Dominik Werling is available following his one-match ban, but he may have to settle for a place on the bench after the return to full fitness of Rob Kozluk.
Club captain Paul Reid may also have to settle for a place among the substitutes, with Dennis Souza and Lewin Nyatanga having formed an effective partnership in central defence.
