16-01-2026, 08:55
Derby County Head Coach John Eustace says his side are ready for a stern test when they return to Sky Bet Championship action with a trip to Deepdale on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Rams will face Preston North End, who sit fourth in the second-tier rankings after 26 matches.
Eustace hailed the progress of Academy midfielder Owen Eames and the introduction of January signing Oscar Fraulo as both made their first team debuts for Derby in Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup clash against Premier League Leeds United.
Fraulo signed up with the Rams from German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach and played out the first half at Pride Park last weekend, while Eames entered play in the 73rd minute.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston side await the Rams, having registered 11 wins and ten draws so far this term, and they will be looking to bounce back after also bowing out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 loss against League One side Wigan Athletic last Friday.
Derby boss Eustace sat down with RamsTV toreflect following the recent break from league action and looked ahead to the Deepdale meeting with Preston.
On the feeling in camp following Sunday’s FA Cup exit
We've had a couple of really good days on the grass, coming off the back of a really tough Christmas period with lots of games and lots of emotions.
It finished off with a big FA Cup game where we just couldn't get over the line, and that was a shame. But there were many positives to take out of that match (against Leeds), and the lads are in a really good place at the moment.
On giving Fraulo and Eames debuts in the FA Cup
It's really important that when we bring new people into the group, players and academy players coming up, that they feel at home and feel welcomed.
Giving them first-team minutes in front of 25,000 at Pride Park certainly helped (their development), and they've both settled in really well.
You look at Eames' rise from the academy, and there has been such hard work put in from all the coaches through the years. I'll only give debuts to players that I think are good enough and deserve it.
Owen has deserved that debut. He's been on the bench previously in the league. We couldn't get him on, unfortunately, but he's worked ever so hard.
Now all the hard work starts properly. He's part of the group. We have to think about what we're going to do with him over the next couple of months. Is a loan best for him, or is it to have more time with the first team?
That's something we're in discussions about. He's got a huge future, and he’s an exciting talent. The club have done so well in getting him to this point, and now we've got to do the right thing for him.
On Nelson departing for MK Dons
Curtis was injured when I came to the football club, unfortunately. But he's worked his socks off to get to a really good point. His performance when he came on against Birmingham City was excellent, and it just typified the kind of character and man he is, so I'm glad he could play a part in that game.
We've got competition from places at the back - it's important at his age that he goes out and plays games. He'll certainly do that at MK, and we wish him all the best.
On Saturday’s opponents, Preston North End
They are a very experienced team. And one that has been together a long time over the last two, three, four years, and they've added good quality to that group. They've certainly built up in the right way.
They have a great manager in Paul Heckingbottom. We know it's going to be a difficult game, but it's a good opportunity to go against one of the best teams in the league at the moment and see where we're at.
The Rams will face Preston North End, who sit fourth in the second-tier rankings after 26 matches.
Eustace hailed the progress of Academy midfielder Owen Eames and the introduction of January signing Oscar Fraulo as both made their first team debuts for Derby in Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup clash against Premier League Leeds United.
Fraulo signed up with the Rams from German Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach and played out the first half at Pride Park last weekend, while Eames entered play in the 73rd minute.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston side await the Rams, having registered 11 wins and ten draws so far this term, and they will be looking to bounce back after also bowing out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 loss against League One side Wigan Athletic last Friday.
Derby boss Eustace sat down with RamsTV toreflect following the recent break from league action and looked ahead to the Deepdale meeting with Preston.
On the feeling in camp following Sunday’s FA Cup exit
We've had a couple of really good days on the grass, coming off the back of a really tough Christmas period with lots of games and lots of emotions.
It finished off with a big FA Cup game where we just couldn't get over the line, and that was a shame. But there were many positives to take out of that match (against Leeds), and the lads are in a really good place at the moment.
On giving Fraulo and Eames debuts in the FA Cup
It's really important that when we bring new people into the group, players and academy players coming up, that they feel at home and feel welcomed.
Giving them first-team minutes in front of 25,000 at Pride Park certainly helped (their development), and they've both settled in really well.
You look at Eames' rise from the academy, and there has been such hard work put in from all the coaches through the years. I'll only give debuts to players that I think are good enough and deserve it.
Owen has deserved that debut. He's been on the bench previously in the league. We couldn't get him on, unfortunately, but he's worked ever so hard.
Now all the hard work starts properly. He's part of the group. We have to think about what we're going to do with him over the next couple of months. Is a loan best for him, or is it to have more time with the first team?
That's something we're in discussions about. He's got a huge future, and he’s an exciting talent. The club have done so well in getting him to this point, and now we've got to do the right thing for him.
On Nelson departing for MK Dons
Curtis was injured when I came to the football club, unfortunately. But he's worked his socks off to get to a really good point. His performance when he came on against Birmingham City was excellent, and it just typified the kind of character and man he is, so I'm glad he could play a part in that game.
We've got competition from places at the back - it's important at his age that he goes out and plays games. He'll certainly do that at MK, and we wish him all the best.
On Saturday’s opponents, Preston North End
They are a very experienced team. And one that has been together a long time over the last two, three, four years, and they've added good quality to that group. They've certainly built up in the right way.
They have a great manager in Paul Heckingbottom. We know it's going to be a difficult game, but it's a good opportunity to go against one of the best teams in the league at the moment and see where we're at.
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