With three signings in the current week, Derby County take on their toughest pre-season opponents to date in the form of Premiership Southampton.
The match will be Frank Lampard’s first game in charge at Pride Park, a place he will hope teams will not enjoy visiting, at least in the footballing sense.
The Saints will be the third pre-season game for Derby, winning in style at Notts County but losing to a strong Mansfield side last time out.
The Rams have brought in Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Florian Jozefzoon this week and at least two of the trio will get some game time today, as Frank Lampard moulds his team for the start of the Championship season.
Derby hope to show the pace and power of their new signings whilst also giving Lampard a clue to what formations he or his team can successfully play. Gary Rowett was very stiff in his formations and maybe the reason Derby was found out in many games during the second half of last season. Lampard now hopes to get the squad playing football that can be easily and quickly adapted to any given situation and style.
Today’s test will go a long way to establishing who will start the first Championship game against Reading that will take place in just 13 days time on Friday 3rd August 8.00pm kick-off and live on Sky Sports.