Derby duo Jason Shackell and Johnny Russell set to miss Liverpool clash
Derby defender Jason Shackell and forward Johnny Russell will not regain fitness in time to feature against Liverpool in the EFL Cup.
Both players missed Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bristol City due to calf injuries and it is hoped they will be back in contention when Blackburn visit the iPro Stadium at the weekend.
Rams boss Nigel Pearson will also be without Ikechi Anya and Matej Vydra, who are cup-tied, while striker James Wilson is a doubt.
Wilson, on loan from Manchester United, sustained a knock on the knee against Bristol City which forced him off after an hour at Ashton Gate.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, will not hold back his star names and has pledged to name a strong team to face the Sky Bet Championship side.
Forward Roberto Firmino has recovered from the minor groin complaint which kept him out of Friday's win at Chelsea and Klopp sees no point in resting players just six matches into a season in which the Reds have no European involvement.
"You can be sure we will find a strong line-up again for this game," said Klopp.
"It is not about resting 100 per cent fit players, it is a normal rhythm and a rhythm we want to have next year again every three or four days (in European competition).
"We know how to handle it and we know about recovery. Take risks in football, but not with players who are not 100 per cent.
"Roberto is in training. The medical department told me he could have played against Chelsea, but I heard the word 'risk' too often so I decided no.
"I was very happy that it worked out. They told me if I gave him three days then everything would be perfect, so today is the fourth day so he is in."
That is not the case for central defender Mamadou Sakho, who is working his way back to fitness after an Achilles injury and still trying to win his manager's approval again after being sent home from the tour of the United States because of concerns about his attitude.
Klopp underlined that it will only be him who makes the decision on when - or if - the France international returns.
"He is closer, but there is a big difference between match fitness and everything," he added.
"It is not about how the player feels, it is about how close I feel he is."
Source: PAR
