Derby County face further setback ahead of FA Cup third-round tie with Chorley

[ASFN Admin]

Derby County have suffered further disruption ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie at Chorley on Saturday after three of their under-23s tested positive for Covid-19, but the match will still go ahead. The trio, whose identities are unknown due to medical confidentiality, have been pulled out of the squad for the match after the results were released on Friday morning. Wayne Rooney and the first-team squad will be absent for the match against the National League North club following a severe outbreak of coronavirus at the Derby training ground. Interim manager Rooney and the players are self-isolating after at least eight positive results were revealed earlier this week. Derby fully intend to complete the match and will field players from their highly-regarded academy, with under-23s and under-18s expected to play. However, many of the under-23s already train with the first-team and are in their “bubble” so it seems certain Derby’s squad at Victory Park will consist of many teenagers. The game will be taken by under-23s coaches Pat Lyons and Gary Bowyer. Lyons revealed on Friday that he will consult interim manager Rooney before the tie. He said: “Wayne has been very supportive, he has left us to it, which is fantastic for us. We will be speaking to him again on Friday. "Opportunity is massive in youth football. You can be at clubs who spend millions and the pathway is blocked. The whole world will be looking at this game. Go and grasp the opportunity. Have no regrets when you come off."

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