Derby County

Jones closes in on Derby transfer
Manchester United midfielder David Jones is poised to complete his move to Derby after agreeing personal terms. The 22-year-old will initially switch to Pride Park on loan with a £1m-plus move becoming permanent in the January transfer window. Jones, who has to complete a medical, played for Rams boss Billy Davies in a loan spell at Preston last season. Davies hopes the signing can be completed in time for Jones to play against Luton on Saturday.

Rams manager earns November prize
Derby County boss Billy Davies has been named as the Championship's manager of the month for November. The Rams enjoyed a superb sequence of form during the month, winning all six of their league games. Despite losing at West Brom in their first game in December, the run has lifted them to within three points of Championship leaders Birmingham. The other contenders for the award were Stoke's Tony Pulis, George Burley of Southampton and Preston's Paul Simpson.

Leeds v Derby
Leeds have Hayden Foxe back from suspension and will play at right-back with Gary Kelly out injured. Matt Kilgallon remains doubtful with an ankle injury, Ian Westlake is banned, while loan pair Matt Heath and Ugo Ehiogu will be in the heart of defence. Derby defender Michael Johnson has recovered from a knock and should make the squad, while Matt Oakley has recovered from a calf injury. Bob Malcolm has returned to training following ankle surgery, but is out.

Derby v Crystal Palace
Derby will be without striker Steve Howard, who has played every minute this season, through suspension. Midfielder Bob Malcolm is available after an early recovery from ankle surgery four weeks ahead of schedule. Crystal Palace are without on-loan keeper Iain Turner, who has returned to Everton after suffering a groin injury. Striker Dougie Freedman has recovered well enough from the groin injury which forced him to miss the Colchester game to possibly earn a place on the bench.

Burnley 0-0 Derby
Derby dropped out of the Championship automatic promotion places after being held to a goalless draw at Burnley. Clarets' keeper Danny Coyne was the busier of the two, twice producing saves to deny Rams Matthew Oakley. Neither side managed to get a firm grip on the game but Chris McCann wasted a chance to give Burnley the lead when he fired wide from close-range. Gifton Noel-Williams missed a final chance to win the points for Burnley, firing wide from Wade Elliott's corner.

Derby 0-2 Wolves
Wolves ended promotion-chasing Derby's run of five successive home wins. Derby's David Jones hit the bar before half-time and Steve Howard rattled the post after as Wolves rode their luck. And Seyi George Olofinjana broke the deadlock after 66 minutes when he capped a counter attack with a clever finish over keeper Stephen Bywater. Wolves keeper Matt Murray saved well from Howard's header before Michael Kightly raced clear to score in injury time from Craig Davies' pass. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby manager Billy Davies: \"We were poor in the first half when we seemed to forget we need to work hard in this division. \"In the second half we were better but we let the crowd down in the first half and hopefully we will come out hurting in our next game.\" Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: \"Derby were better than us and they beat us at our place earlier in the season, but now we have repaid the compliment. \"It was the best performance of the season, coupled with the right result but I feel we could have picked up more points by now and we should be in a better position.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby: Bywater, Edworthy, Leacock, Moore, Boertien (Michael Johnson 29), Oakley (Peschisolido 85), Jones, Seth Johnson (Lupoli 73), Barnes, Howard, Stead. Subs Not Used: Bisgaard, Malcolm. Booked: Malcolm, Michael Johnson. Wolverhampton: Murray, Little, Collins, Breen, McNamara, Kightly, Henry, Potter, Olofinjana, McIndoe, Clarke (Craig Davies 77). Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Clapham, Edwards, Ricketts. Booked: Collins, Clarke, Little. Goals: Olofinjana 66, Kightly 90. Att: 31,920. Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).

Injury ends Doyle's Bradford stay
Derby defender Nathan Doyle has played the last game of his loan spell at Bradford after being ruled out for up to three months with ligament damage. Doyle, 19, was due to stay until the end of the season until he was carried off against Doncaster on Boxing Day. \"He would have been staying with us but now not going to happen,\" boss Colin Todd told the Express and Argus. The injury is another blow to City who lie 14th in League One and have scored in just two of their last nine games.

Preston v Derby
Preston's Paul McKenna could return having missed the game against Sunderland after picking up a knock against West Brom. Patrick Agyemang is still a few weeks away from returning from a hip problem and fellow striker Neil Mellor (knee) is hoping to return to training soon. Derby boss Billy Davies could bring Seth Johnson into midfield after he was rested against Plymouth. Defender Paul Boertien misses out because of knee ligament damage.

Hull to unveil Brown as new boss
Hull City will formally name former Derby County boss Phil Brown as their new permanent manager on Thursday, SSB reports. Brown, 47, has been Hull's caretaker manager following Phil Parkinson's departure from the club last month. Parkinson was sacked after five months in charge, prompting Brown's promotion. Brown has guided Hull out of the relegation zone with home wins over Cardiff and Burnley and an away victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

Rams bag Man Utd midfielder Jones
Derby have completed the signing of Manchester United midfielder David Jones in a £1m-plus deal. The 22-year-old, who had been on loan at Pride Park since November, has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship club. Jones made four appearances for the Old Trafford club and has played for England Under-21s. Derby boss Billy Davies said: "I'm delighted to have secured the services of such a talented young player." Davies added: "I'm sure from what he's shown for the Rams so far that the Derby fans will know we've signed a first-class footballer. "David has settled in really well at the club and shown signs of his quality. "I'm sure he will get better and better the more games he plays."

Bradford reject Rams' Johnson bid
Bradford City have turned down a bid in the region of £250,000 from Derby County for their Jamaican winger Jermaine Johnson. Bantams chairman Julian Rhodes told the Telegraph and Argus: "There have been a number of scouts watching Jermaine. "The only official contact we have had so far has come from Derby but they did not meet our valuation of him." Johnson, 26, joined Bradford in June 2006 after a loan spell with Oldham and he has also played for Yeovil Town.

Pearson's Derby comeback delayed
Derby midfielder Stephen Pearson's return from injury has been put on hold by Rams manager Billy Davies. He was expected to feature in Tuesday's friendly against Notts County at Moor Farm, but will now play no part. The 24-year-old Scotland international was injured in the defeat at Sunderland a month ago and has missed the Rams' last five matches. Davies said: "Tuesday's game is too early for him. He is touch and go for Saturday, we'll have to wait and see."

Currie keen to stay on at Derby
On-loan Derby winger Darren Currie hopes to earn a permanent deal at Pride Park when his Ipswich contract ends this summer. Currie, 32, was on trial with American side LA Galaxy when Rams boss Billy Davies brought him to the Championship leaders for the rest of the season. "I want my future to be here, working with Billy Davies," he told SSB. "He has made it clear that if I do what is expected of me I will have a future here - so it is up to me to earn it." Currie says his time in America was enough for him to realise that the chance of playing alongside David Beckham for Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy was not for him. He did not have to think twice about signing for the Rams - and is desperate to repay Davies by helping his new side win promotion to the Premiership. "I was out in the US when my agent flew out and told me that Derby were keen to take me," Currie explained. "I did not have much of a decision to make - they are a great club, they are flying and they wanted to sign me. "I was joking that I was looking for a flight direct from Los Angeles to Derby. I could not wait to get back." Currie is at pains to point out that he did not reject Galaxy and is grateful to their coach Frank Yallop for giving him an opportunity in the US. "It was a mutual agreement in the end," said Currie. "They were interested in signing me and I was obviously keen to go over and start up a career over there. "But once I got over there and we started training it just made me realise that I still have so much to offer back in England. "The passion for the game is not the same as it is in England and I just missed that intensity that goes with three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. " And after being out of favour for most of the season with Ipswich, Currie is keen to make up for lost time with Derby. He has played twice for the Rams since arriving on 15 March and has clicked instantly with Davies. Currie says it is clear why the Rams are top of the Championship, with just six games left. "Billy is such a passionate man," he added. "You can see why the team has done so well because he is so hungry for success. "He is very good at motivating the team and he makes it crystal clear what he wants from us. He is a joy to work for. "It has been very easy for me to understand what he wants from me and very easy for me to slot in and do a job for him."

Derby & Ipswich contest red cards
Derby and Ipswich have lodged appeals over the dismissals of Stephen Bywater and Alex Bruce in Saturday's Championship game at Portman Road. The pair were sent off after an altercation in the first half as the Tractor Boys ran out 2-1 winners. Ipswich boss Jim Magilton said: "It was handbags. I think two yellow cards would have been the right decision." The players both face three-match bans and the Football Association will consider the appeals on Tuesday.

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