Derby County have confirmed their line-up to face Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Burnley loanee Jaydon Banel netted his goal for the Rams as they swept to a 2-0 victory over Stoke City at Pride Park Stadium on Easter Monday, and he will make his 10th second-tier outing for Derby when he takes to the field on the South Coast.
Head Coach John Eustace has made three changes from the side that surpassed the Potters.
Sam Szmodics returns to the fold after he was kept out of action over the Easter fixtures due to a concussion injury sustained while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland at the end of March. The 30-year-old will make his ninth appearance for the Rams since his deadline day loan move from Ipswich Town.
Forward Ben Brereton Díaz is on loan at Derby from Southampton and, therefore, is ineligible for selection against his parent club at St. Mary’s.
Eustace confirmed earlier this week that striker Patrick Agyemang is sidelined with a long-term injury sustained against Stoke on Easter Monday, and the United States international will be out of action.
Max Johnston will make his first start since making his return from injury with an appearance from the bench at Pride Park on Monday.
Bobby Clark, who was confirmed to have been shortlisted for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season award earlier this week, will make his 41st league outing when taking to the field at St. Mary’s.
Academy midfielder Cruz Allen made his home league debut from the bench against the Potters, and he is once again part of the matchday squad, as are Owen Eames and Isaac Gordon.
Southampton: Peretz (GK), Manning, Downes, Stephens (C), Harwood-Bellis, Azaz, Stewart, Scienza, Bree, Fellows, Jander.
Substitutes: Long (GK), Larin, Wood, Archer, Edozie, Charles, Matsuki, Welington, Bragg.
Derby County: O’Donnell (GK), Clarke, Morris, Ozoh, Szmodics, Johnston, Ward, Travis (C), Sanderson, Banel, Clark.
Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Langås, Salvesen, Fraulo, Eames, I Gordon, Allen.
