Football: Ducrocq the target for Derby

THE DERBY COUNTY manager, Colin Todd, is preparing to sell Seth Johnson to Leeds United by bringing in the combative French midfielder Pierre Ducrocq as his replacement.

Ducrocq arrives today from Paris St-Germain to sign on loan for the season with a view to a pounds 2m permanent move to England if County stay in the Premiership. The experienced midfielder can fill in for pounds 7m-rated Johnson, who is wanted by Leeds.

Johnson's sale, or that of another Derby player, is seen as inevitable because of the club's financial problems. Leeds want a quick answer after bidding a week ago for the player, with their manager, David O'Leary, seeing Johnson as a new option in a midfield that is being stretched by their commitments at home and abroad.

O'Leary could switch his attentions to Leicester City's Muzzy Izzet if Derby do not agree a price for Johnson this week, but the England international Johnson is his first choice. Ducrocq, meanwhile, is the kind of cheaper player that Derby must look at. He almost joined West Ham in the summer and is available after falling out of favour at PSG.

Goran Bunjevcevic could make a surprise return for Tottenham when they take on Derby at White Hart Lane tonight. The Yugoslav defender has not played since fracturing his cheekbone against Chelsea three weeks ago, but he has been fitted with a bone-protecting mask which could allow him to play.

If Bunjevcevic returns, it will see him partner Dean Richards for the first time at the heart of the Tottenham defence. Also expected back in the team is Christian Ziege, who missed the Worthington Cup win over Tranmere last week with the knee injury he picked up in Germany's World Cup qualifying 0-0 draw with Finland last weekend.

"Goran may be fit, it depends on how his mask is, but I would not rule him out of the game against Derby," Glenn Hoddle, the Spurs manager, said. "Christian has trained and we hope he is going to be available. Ben Thatcher will also be included because he did so well against Tranmere last Tuesday."

Spurs have scored 15 goals in their last six matches, but Hoddle has warned the fans not to expect a feast against struggling Derby. "Football doesn't always work out that way," he said. "We are at home and we must take the advantage. If we play well and win then fine, but if we had an indifferent performance and won 1-0 it would not bother me - the bottom line is that the three points are vital for us.

"We need the points to get ourselves in a strong position. Around Christmas time, if we are in a reasonable position, we can kick on from there, and I think we are building towards that," Hoddle added.

Todd prepares for his first League match as Derby's manager with no serious injury problems. Ian Feuer, the American goalkeeper signed on loan from Wimbledon last week, could come into the squad.

Aston Villa are the new 5-1 favourites to win the Worthington Cup after Saturday's fourth-round draw pitted two of the other principal contenders, Leeds United and Chelsea, against one another at Elland Road. Villa are at home to Sheffield Wednesday, while Grimsby's reward for knocking out the holders, Liverpool, in the last round is a trip to either Arsenal or Manchester United.

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