The predicted Derby County XI John Eustace will play v Stoke City - "Carlton Morris will play up top" | OneFootball

FLW's Rams fan pundit has given his thoughts on who will make the starting eleven for their game against Stoke City.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

The 2025/26 EFL Championship kicks off on Friday, and there's plenty of anticipation and hope around plenty of the second tier's fanbases for positive seasons.

Derby County's first full season under John Eustace provides optimism for an improved campaign, after the Rams boss took Blackburn Rovers from a side battling relegation to one in the top six before he departed last season, and perhaps history can repeat itself in that sense - Derby fans most definitely wouldn't mind that.

The Rams start 2025/26 where they ended 2024/25 as they take on Mark Robins' Stoke City in a repeat of the final day. However, Derby come into the new campaign with a multitude of injuries and players facing late fitness tests to be a part of the opening weekend.

Football League World's Derby fan pundit, Shaun Woodward, believes that "the team almost picks itself right now," and that "Stoke will not have a better time to play Derby" due to their various injury issues.

Having said that, here's who Woodward feels will line up for his side at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Jacob Zetterström

Goalkeeper

Woodward believes that Derby will have to put out "half the second-string side" this Saturday.

"We have about four or five out and another four or five with question marks over their heads," he said.

Well, he'll be happy that none of those injuries apply to Jacob Zetterström, who enjoyed a productive debut campaign in the Derby goal after signing from Djurgården last summer.

The 27-year-old kept nine clean sheets in 40 Championship games last term, and made 104 saves along the way, too.

"Zetterstrom in goal, playing a 4-2-3-1," Woodward began regarding his starting XI selections.

Ryan Nyambe

Right-back

"Right-back will be Ryan Nyambe, although there's a question mark over him too, so Jake Rooney can always step in there if needed," Woodward said.

Namibia international Nyambe has had a torrid time with injuries so far in his Derby career, playing just 36 league games across the two seasons he's been at the club.

Last year, a knee injury towards the start of the season and a hamstring injury at the end restricted him to just 17 Championship appearances, and it seems that he'll be battling injury to make the eleven on Saturday as well.

Danny Batth

Centre-back

"Danny Batth will be one of the centre-halves" in the side on Saturday according to Woodward, mainly due to a plethora of unavailability in his position.

The 34-year-old is one of three new arrivals at Pride Park this season who played under Eustace at Blackburn last season.

He made 37 Championship appearances last term, with most of them coming under the new Derby boss.

Jake Rooney

Centre-back

Despite being an option at right-back, Woodward has gone for Rooney as Batth's centre-back partner against Stoke.

"There's a question mark over Matt Clarke, and both Curtis Nelson and Sondre Langås are confirmed to be out," he said.

"If Clarke isn't fit, then you can bring in Craig Forsyth or Rooney in at centre half alongside Batth."

Rooney would be set to make his Championship bow if he is picked by Eustace, as the 21-year-old made no appearances in the league last season, despite making 16 matchday squads.

He played three times in the 2023/24 League One campaign as the Rams earned promotion to the second tier.

Callum Elder

Left-back

"Left-back will be Callum Elder, as there's still a question mark over Owen Beck," Woodward continued.

Eustace will be eager to bring Beck into the fold after the Liverpool loanee excelled under him whilst at Blackburn last season, but if he doesn't pass the fitness test, then veteran full-back Elder will be up to the task of taking on Stoke.

Ebou Adams

Central midfield

Woodward and Derby fans will be happy to see Ebou Adams come through pre-season injury-free, as the Gambian is arguably the first name on the team sheet.

"The two in front of the back four will be Ebou Adams and possibly Liam Thompson, as there are questions over David Ozoh," the fan pundit said.

Last season, Adams was one of the premier box-to-box midfielders in the entire league, winning the most tackles and duels out of any central midfielder in the Championship, whilst adding six goals across the campaign.

Liam Thompson

Central midfield

Adams' midfield partner is predicted to be Derby academy graduate Liam Thompson, whilst the club waits on the fitness of Crystal Palace loanee Ozoh, who missed the final 12 games of last season with a thigh injury.

The exciting 20-year-old played just once under Eustace after he arrived at the club from Blackburn, so bringing him back on loan this term gives the idea that the current Derby boss sees Ozoh as a key man when fit.

For the time being, however, Thompson will provide a suitable replacement.

Kenzo Goudmijn

Central attacking midfield

Derby will arguably be in the market for a new attacking midfielder before the transfer window slams shut on September 1, but for now, Kenzo Goudmijn has the opportunity to prove his worth to Eustace over the first few weeks of the season.

"We'll have Kenzo in front of the two, but there were times last season when Eustace put Adams further forward and Kenzo sat behind, so the two could swap over," Woodward commented.

Last season, Goudmijn scored and assisted just twice in 41 Championship games, and was left on the bench for the final three games of the season, arguably the most important games of the campaign.

Kayden Jackson

Right wing

The wide positions in the Rams side seemed to pick themselves too, due to injuries and a lack of match sharpness in a couple of new arrivals.

Woodward said, "Kane Wilson is out, Andy Weimann hasn't had many minutes, and we don't know what Rhian Brewster's fitness is like, so Kayden Jackson and Corey Blackett-Taylor will be the two wide men."

A promotion winner with Ipswich Town two seasons ago, Jackson played a part in every Championship game last season, starting 28 of them.

He'll be looking for his first league goal of 2025 on Saturday, having last scored against Luton Town last December.

Corey Blackett-Taylor

Left wing

Having appeared on the fringes for the majority of last season before missing a lot of 2025 with a hamstring injury, Corey Blackett-Taylor has the opportunity to prove to Eustace that he is worthy of retaining that starting spot when the aforementioned players get up to fitness.