Derby County will host Plymouth Argyle in a Championship match at Pride Park on Saturday.
Derby County will attempt to build on their big midweek triumph against Coventry City when they head off this weekend.
The Rams won 2-1, giving them their first away win in the Championship in 2024/25.
That success did little to alleviate the prospect of relegation, with Paul Warne’s team remaining three points away from safety.
Plymouth Argyle are now 22nd in the Championship table, but a win at Pride Park will bring them level on points with Derby.
Plymouth are in poor form, having won only one of their last five league games. Derbyshire has also won one of five matches, although they have drawn three of them.
Much of the attention before of the match is on Wayne Rooney’s return to Derby County.
Wayne Rooney opens up on Derby County spell
Rooney agreed to become a player-coach at Derby before the 2019/20 season begins.
Rooney scored six goals in 24 games that season, as the Rams finished 10th.
The Manchester United star later became the club’s permanent manager, but after a 21-point deduction, Derby were relegated at the end of 2021/22, prompting Rooney’s resignation.
According to Plymouth Live, the former striker has offered his thoughts on his time at Derby.
He stated: “I have extremely good memories. I met some great people who helped us get through some difficult times at the football club.
“I believe that throughout my time there, we established a truly positive environment, and I have many happy recollections. It will be nice to see some old friends that I haven’t seen in a while. It would be good from that perspective, but my work and loyalties are here, and we have to go there and attempt to get three points.”
Wayne Rooney name-drops two Derby County players before return with Plymouth
Rooney discussed the difficult times he encountered at Pride Park, but was keen to point out one good from his time in command.
The dismal financial position at Derby at the time compelled Rooney to give several young players a chance, two of whom he mentioned ahead of his return to Plymouth this weekend.
He continued, “It was a difficult moment for the football club, the fans, and the personnel. We had staff members who were made redundant and lost their jobs, but we had to work hard to keep things close-knit.
“It meant that several young players made their debuts for the football club. Some of them are still with the team, including young Liam Thompson and (Eiran) Cashin. “Obviously, Cash is suspended for Saturday’s game.”
As revealed by the Plymouth manager, Cashin is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Coventry, although Thompson could play on Saturday.
