Middlesbrough are without goalkeepers Jason Steele (torn stomach muscle) and Danny Coyne (back), so teenager Connor Ripley is standing by to start.Scott McDonald missed the Reading game with a virus and will be assessed, while Julio Arca is likely to miss out once again with toe and knee problems.
Derby's Thomas Cywka has been ruled out by a knee problem.
Defender Dean Leacock could return to the squad, but Russell Anderson and James Bailey are still out.
MATCH PREVIEW
Saturday's 5-2 thrashing at Reading was another body blow for relegation-threatened Middlesbrough, who are only two places and three points above the drop zone and have won one of their last six games.
Boro have been decimated by injuries, which have taken a toll on their defence especially - as the Reading game highlighted. Goalkeeper Connor Ripley, just 17, came on for the injured Danny Coyne during the first half of that game and the average age of the back four in front of him was only 22.
All five players are products of Boro's highly-regarded academy and while the club have long shown a willingness to build for the future, their immediate predicament is a huge worry for their supporters.
Derby are only three points better off, and could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Barnsley at the weekend. That did at least spare the Rams a sixth consecutive defeat at Pride Park, which could be a League One ground next season unless boss Nigel Clough can halt their slide.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Middlesbrough have won 56 and Derby 46 of the 131 previous matches between these clubs.
• Derby's last away win against Boro was a 4-1 victory in January 2000.
Middlesbrough
• Since September, Middlesbrough have won only once at home against a team outside of the current bottom four (1-0 v Cardiff on 11 December).
• They have now let in 52 league goals this season - two more than they conceded throughout the whole of last term.
Derby
• Derby have won only one of their last 12 matches.
• The Rams have kept clean sheets in three of their last five games.
• They have conceded six Championship goals in injury time this season. Only Doncaster have shipped more.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport