Boss hoping for solid, injury-free workout at Pride Park
STEVE Clarke has a full complement of players to choose from as the club returns to action on English soil at Derby tomorrow (ko 3pm).
The head coach has no fresh fitness concerns following the pre-season trip to Austria, with long-term absentee George Thorne (knee) the only player missing through injury.
Clarke’s squad will include young pros Kemar Roofe and Saido Berahino.
Derby are much further ahead of the Baggies in their pre-season preparations, with the Rams kicking off their Championship campaign at home to Blackburn on Sunday week.
And Clarke is expecting a thorough workout against a Rams side that finished tenth last term.
“This is Derby’s final preparation game and I’m sure they’ll be looking for a big performance against a Barclays Premier League team to set them up for the new season,” he said.
“For us, a good fitness workout with no injuries will be our main priorities.
“At this stage of our preparations, we’re hoping for a good, solid training match which will give us the chance to look at one or two things in relation to the coming season.”
Tickets for the Pride Park clash are priced £12 adults, £8 seniors and £6 under-18s. Entry for under-12s is free. Albion fans can purchase seats (cash-only) from the away ticket office and away ticket sales marquee, which are both situated at the rear of the South Stand.