DERBY could play Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence tomorrow night – despite their charge for drink-driving.
Rams boss Phillip Cocu has lost his captain Richard Keogh for 15 MONTHS after he was injured in the horror car crash.
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Now Cocu will decide if Bennett and Lawrence are mentally prepared to face Barnsley tomorrow night.
The pair were not involved for the 3-2 win over Birmingham on Saturday.
But they have not been suspended while an internal investigation is being conducted and both are available to play.
So it is down to Cocu whether he thinks it would be right to pick them just over a week after the crash which took place after some of the team carried on drinking following a team bonding day.
Both players are still coming to terms with the situation and will appear before magistrates on October 15.
Rams bosses are refusing to rush into any disciplinary measures – and are making it clear this is new territory for the club.
They say the investigation will be a thorough one.
However, they do hope to finish their enquiries before Lawrence and Bennett appear in court.
Lawrence’s selection for the Wales squad, who play Euro 2020 qualifiers against Slovakia and Croatia, could also be in doubt.
The home tie with Croatia comes two days before his magistrates appearance.
Derby captain Keogh faces a battle to save his career after being ruled out of action for 15 months following last week’s controversial car smash.
He was believed to have been a back seat passenger in Lawrence’s Range Rover which crashed into a lamppost while Bennett’s Mercedes was also involved in the A6 accident.
Keogh, 33, suffered anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament damage and will not due to play again until after Christmas NEXT year.
But the defender is under contract until the summer of 2021 and will be 34 when he is scheduled to be fit, meaning he faces a battle to save his career.
Derby say they plan to offer Keogh as much help as they can in his rehabilitation.
The player is said to be devastated after the club’s worst fears were confirmed following a scan last Friday.
