Nelson not quite ready yet but makes welcome trip with Rams

THE Derby County squad that has travelled to their preseason training camp has included all four of the club's new faces and one very welcome familiar one - Curtis Nelson.

- By BRIAN DICK

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was the inclusion of popular defender Nelson, who is on his way back from the knee injury that ended his season in January.

Nelson was assessed after the Championship game with Watford and at the time Paul Warne said he had suffered “severe knee damage, so he'll be out for a long period of time.”

It is not clear whether Nelson is there to fully participate in training, or even the game against Red Bull.

He could continue his rehabilitation whilst being part of Eustace’s squad for the first time.

The defender is not expected to be ready for the start of new season, however.

The Rams landed in Austria on Monday afternoon and will spend the next few days building up towards their friendly with Red Bull Salzburg on Friday (5pm our time).

John Eustace’s group includes a host of youngsters who will be given the chance to prove themselves in the head coach’s first summer in charge, with several having already played against Matlock Town on Saturday.