Derby short of recognised centre backs, with Michael Johnson ruled out for up to 6 weeks. This from Soccernet:
Quote:
Norwich manager Peter Grant will hand a late fitness test to teenage striker Chris Martin ahead of the home clash with Championship high-flyers Derby.
Martin, 18, scored his third goal in his last three games in the vital 3-1 win at Barnsley on Saturday but picked up an ankle knock and his fitness will be monitored before the County clash.
Veteran Dion Dublin remains sidelined with a calf injury and striker Chris Brown is still three weeks away from a return after pulling his hamstring in the recent 1-1 draw with Coventry.
Defender Jason Shackell suffered from dizziness in the second half at Oakwell but should be fit to continue alongside Gary Doherty while captain Adam Drury came through the full 90 minutes unscathed after injuring his back against Luton last Tuesday.
Tony Warner will continue in goal after signing on loan from Fulham until the end of the season with Paul Gallacher omitted from the 16 entirely at Barnsley after he made a mistake in the 3-2 win at Luton.
Luke Chadwick will again be on the bench as he looks for his first appearance since November but top scorer Robert Earnshaw is out for at least another month with a groin injury.
Derby will attempt to reclaim the Coca-Cola Championship top spot at Norwich without the services of experienced defender Michael Johnson.
Johnson has been told he could face up to six weeks on the sidelines after being forced off the field during Friday's 5-1 win over Colchester just moments before the interval with a hamstring injury.
The loss of the 31-year-old Jamaican international leaves the Rams short of recognised centre backs, and may force boss Billy Davies into recalling the recovering Dean Leacock, who is still thought to be lacking full match fitness.
Should Leacock fail to make the Carrow Road trip, Davies is expected to call upon makeshift centre-backs Marc Edworthy or Tyrone Mears to fill the void, as Richard Jackson and Paul Boertien remain sidelined by respective knee and calf problems.
Midfielder Stephen Pearson is hoping to push his way back into contention after sitting out of the Colchester victory with severe bruising on his foot
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Norwich on the back of 2 wins, both away from home, admittedly against strugglers, but will have boosted morale. Derby got back to winning ways with a 5-1 thrashing of Colchester, but lost their last 2 prior to that.
Could yet be tempted by Norwich in this one.