Derby v Crystal Palace preview

Team news for Derby's Championship clash with Crystal Palace at Pride Park on Saturday.

Last Updated: 24/09/10 at 10:45

Kuqi: Set for home bow

Kuqi: Set for home bow

Derby will monitor the fitness of left-back Gareth Roberts ahead of the visit of Palace.

A tight hamstring and calf muscle has kept Roberts out of the last two matches. The injuries are a result of the severe cramp he suffered in the home defeat by Sheffield United this month when he was carried off on a stretcher.

Dean Moxey played at left-back against Hull and Barnsley and is set to continue if Roberts remains sidelined.

Stephen Pearson is likely to be on the bench again. The midfielder made his return from knee surgery as a second-half substitute at Barnsley and continued his comeback with 45 minutes for the reserves this week.

Former Palace striker Shefki Kuqi, on loan from Swansea, is in line to make his home debut. Defenders Russell Anderson (groin) and Jake Buxton (stomach and groin) and striker Chris Porter (hip) remain out.

Buxton is still experiencing discomfort following surgery and will have an injection next week while Porter is set to return to a specialist in a bid to get to the bottom of his long-standing problem.

Edgar Davids has returned to Palace.

The veteran Dutch midfielder has been on compassionate leave following the death of his father, and Palace boss George Burley will check on his fitness before deciding whether to include him.

Last season's top scorer Darren Ambrose is still on the sidelines with a leg injury but has pencilled in a return against QPR next weekend.

Defender Anthony Gardner remains a doubt with an ankle problem so Claude Davis is likely to face his old club at centre-half.

Former Rams loanee James Vaughan will keep his place in attack.

Full-backs David Wright (calf) and Lee Hills and winger Sean Scannell (both knee) are still on the sidelines.

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Championship Fixtures

Monday, 27 May 2013
15:00
C Palace v Watford

npower Championship

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Cardiff 46 27 87
2 Hull City 46 9 79
3 Watford 46 27 77
4 Brighton 46 26 75
5 C Palace 46 11 72
6 Leicester 46 23 68
7 Bolton 46 8 68
8 N Forest 46 4 67
9 Charlton 46 6 65
10 Derby 46 3 61
11 Burnley 46 2 61
12 Birmingham 46 -6 61
13 Leeds 46 -9 61
14 Ipswich 46 -13 60
15 Blackpool 46 -1 59
16 Middlesbro' 46 -9 59
17 Blackburn 46 -7 58
18 Sheff Wed 46 -8 58
19 Huddersfld 46 -20 58
20 Millwall 46 -11 56
21 Barnsley 46 -14 55
22 Peterboro 46 -9 54
23 Wolves 46 -14 51
24 Bristol C 46 -25 41

Updated Sat, 04 May 2013

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