Watch live on Sky Sports Football Red Button and Sky Sports app from 7.40pm; kick-off is at 7.45pm
Tuesday 28 January 2020 19:43, UK
Luton face Derby in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Football Red Button and Sky Sports app.
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Izzy Brown is set for a return to the Luton squad ahead of schedule to face Derby at home. The 22-year-old has been out for 10 matches with a torn hamstring and was not expected to return for another fortnight but he is in contention again having trained for the last week.
Callum McManaman has returned from a hamstring problem and Martin Cranie trained with the squad for the first time on Monday after injury. Manager Graeme Jones is looking to move some players on in order to be able to do some transfer business later this week.
Derby manager Philip Cocu is set to restore his strongest line-up having made eight changes for the FA Cup draw at Northampton. Ben Hamer, Jayden Bogle, Matt Clarke, Max Lowe, Duane Holmes, Martyn Waghorn, Tom Lawrence and Tom Huddlestone were all rested for the tie against the League Two side but most, if not all, are likely to be recalled.
Midfielder Graeme Shinnie made his first appearance in a match-day squad for 12 games after a torn hamstring but will have to settle for a place on the bench, at best, again. Forward Jack Marriott got just over an hour against Northampton after three matches out with a thigh problem but looks set to be dropped to the bench.
The strains of the Championship are beginning to catch up with Luton and they have lost their last five games in all competitions, with the latest coming on January 19 when Nottingham Forest ran out 3-1 winners at Kenilworth Road. With 18 games left to play, the Hatters find themselves eight points from safety.
Since the arrival of Wayne Rooney to the Derby squad, the Rams are yet to lose a game and have won three of their last four league games. Their progress could take a hit, however, with an FA Cup fourth-round replay against Northampton still to come.
Luton Town are hosting Derby for a league match for the first time since November 2006, when they were beaten 2-0 at Kenilworth Road.
Derby have won their last three league games against Luton, though two of those wins were during the 2006-07 campaign.
Luton have earned 21 points from 28 games so far this season. Each of the last 14 second tier sides to pick up 21 points or fewer at this stage of the season have been relegated, with Crewe the last side to survive from this position in 1998-99.
Derby have picked up 10 points from their last four league matches (W3 D1 L0), one more point than they earned from their previous 11 games (W2 D3 L6).
Luton have conceded 61 goals after 28 matches - the last second tier side to concede more at this stage of the season were Stockport County in 2001-02 (66).
Derby haven't won away from home in the Championship since their victory at Huddersfield on the opening day of the season.
Luton haven't had an easy ride in their first season back in the Championship and it's beginning to take its toll, without a doubt. Morale will have taken a hit after losing five on the spin but we know they have a fighting spirit and they'll really need to dig deep from here on in.
As expected, Wayne Rooney's arrival at Pride Park has had a profound effect; including his debut against Barnsley on January 2, the Rams have won three and drawn two, conceding just three times. It's been a much-needed boost for Phillip Cocu's men and though I think the unbeaten run will continue here, I feel they may be forced to settle for a draw.
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
