Jones set to join Derby on loan, Dean may leave

By steve nicholson

DERBY County's goalkeeping saga this season is set to take a new twist.

Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones is expected to arrive on loan today while the Derby Telegraph understands defender Dean Leacock is likely to join Hull City in a loan deal.

The window for emergency loans closes tonight.

Leacock, whose Rams' contract runs to 2012, has made 23 appearances this season but he has not featured since the home defeat by Nottingham Forest in January.

He was sidelined by illness and the 26-year-old has not been able to force his way back into the team.

Shaun Barker and Daniel Ayala are filling the centre-back positions. Miles Addison can also play in defence and Russell Anderson is on his way back from injury.

Derby have moved for Jones after Hull recalled Matt Duke from his loan spell.

Duke had been ready to step in for Frank Fielding in the Rams' final eight games of the Championship campaign but now Jones, the 29-year-old Australian, is ready to become the fourth keeper to be used by Derby this season.

Stephen Bywater started the season as number one but injured his wrist in training in October.

Derby brought in Fielding on loan from Blackburn and he impressed during a two-month spell.

The England Under-21 international made 10 consecutive appearances as the team climbed to fourth in the table.

A fit-again Bywater returned to the team in December and Fielding went back to Blackburn but Bywater suffered a strained muscle in his side in the home game against Hull in February.

With back-up keeper Saul Deeney out injured, 19-year-old James Severn came off the bench two minutes into the second half and Hull's winning goal came when he misjudged the flight of a corner.

The injuries to Bywater and Deeney meant Derby had to dip into the loan market again.

Fielding returned for a second spell but the rules state that a player can spend a maximum 93 days on emergency loan at a club during a season and his third and final month came to an end after Saturday's draw against Crystal Palace, although all the indications are that Derby will make the 22-year-old their first permanent signing of close season.

Bywater is currently on loan to Cardiff City until the end of the season. He has a year to run on his contract after this season and his future at Pride Park looks uncertain with Fielding likely to be signed in the close season.

Jones joined Liverpool from Middlesbrough in a £2.3m deal last summer and he signed a three-year contract.

His two appearances for the Reds this season came against Northampton Town in the Carling Cup in September and FC Utrecht in the Europa League in December.

He started his career with Bayswater City SC in Western Australia before he moved to Middlesbrough as a youth player and signed professional in 1999.

Midfielder Ben Pringle is heading back to Derby despite the fact his one-month loan spell at Torquay United is only due to expire next week.

The 21-year-old has played five games for the League Two club.

"He wants to fight for his place (at Derby) and we can't stand in the way," said Torquay boss Paul Buckle.