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Pearson: Guided Leicester to seventh

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It's derby day at the Walkers Stadium as Leicester and Derby reconvene Championship commitments following an international hiatus.

The Foxes have enjoyed an encouraging return to English football's second tier as they sit just outside the play-offs in seventh, while Derby's campaign has been less impressive as they lie ten places below their Midlands neighbours.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson will choose from an unchanged squad as Bulgarian defender Aleksandar Tunchev remains the only absentee as he recovers from another knee operation.

Prior to the international break, Pearson made five changes for the game at Middlesbrough and stuck with the same XI against Coventry after seeing his side record their first away win of the season at the Riverside.

Following the 1-1 draw with the Sky Blues, Pearson could name the same starting line-up for the third straight Championship match.

However, the likes of midfielder Richie Wellens and strikers Steve Howard and Martyn Waghorn, who combined so well for the Foxes equalising goal at the Ricoh Arena within minutes of coming off the bench, are pushing strongly for recalls.

City striker Paul Dickov, who is on loan at Derby, is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Derby news

Dean Leacock remains a doubt for injury-hit Derby. The defender missed the home win over Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break with a hamstring injury but despite resuming training, he may still be deemed not quite ready for a first-team return.

Another centre-half Jake Buxton and forward Kris Commons could have put themselves in contention by returning from injury for the reserves this week.

Commons has missed the last three matches with a hamstring problem while Buxton is on his way back after a hernia operation.

Right-back Paul Connolly also played for the second string on Wednesday night following a foot problem and could be considered. However, young midfielder Ben Pringle added to the Rams' injury woes by sustaining a knee problem and he is a doubt.

Derby are still searching the loan market for a striker. James Vaughan (knee), Steve Davies (ankle) and Chris Porter (hip) are injured and Paul Dickov is ineligible as he is on loan from Leicester.

Defenders Miles Addison (foot) and Shaun Barker (thigh) and midfielders Giles Barnes (Achilles), Paul Green (foot) and Stephen Pearson (groin) complete the list of absentees.