Jack Marriott 'obviously staking his claim' to start Derby County's next game
The striker scored after coming off the bench in the Rams' defeat to Bristol City
Chris WatsonDigital football writer
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Jack Marriott is "obviously staking his claim" to start Derby County's next match, says team-mate Tom Huddlestone.
Marriott scored his first goal of the season after coming off the bench in the Rams' 2-1 home defeat to Bristol City on Tuesday night.
His excellent 85th-minute strike was one of the few positives from a disappointing evening for Phillip Cocu's men.
The former Peterborough United hot-shot has been recovering from an injury he picked up during pre-season.
Phillip Cocu explains why Derby County striker Jack Marriott did not start or come on earlier
Marriott has been a substitute in all four of Derby's league fixtures so far this term, while completing 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup first round win at Scunthorpe United.
Cocu revealed he did not want to risk giving the striker more minutes on the pitch in midweek after a "minor problem" had prevented him training fully in the build-up to the match.
Marriott could now be in contention to start Saturday's Championship clash with West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park Stadium (12.30pm).
Derby County 1-2 Bristol City
Live: How it unfolded
Report: Rams beaten
Gallery: Match in pictures
Ratings: Low scores
Cocu: It was a bad start
Video: Nico's verdict
"Jack did well (against Bristol City)," said Huddlestone. "He looked lively at the weekend (at Stoke City), and he's come on and staked a claim to be starting on Saturday.
"Jack scored quite a lot of goals for us last season, and we know he can score goal from nothing, like he has shown. It was a great finish.
"He has come on and had a positive impact on the game. He's obviously staking his claim to start the next match, and give the manager something to think about."
Martyn Waghorn has been leading the line, and netted twice in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Stoke.
Tom Huddlestone gives honest assessment of Derby County's defeat to Bristol City
Mason Bennett moved up front alongside Waghorn at the start of the second half on Tuesday.
"Jack is probably the most natural goalscorer in our squad but all our strikers can produce something out of nothing, so it's good that we've got competition for places," Huddlestone added.
"There are a few lads who haven't played much football since the start of the season, and Jack's one of them.
"Everyone wants to start every game, and Jack is no different, but the manager can only pick 11, with seven subs.
Jack Marriott scores for Derby County against Bristol City (Image: PA)
"If you're a sub and you get your chance, you've got to take it - and Jack has done fairly well in the past two games when he has come on."
As a midfielder, Huddlestone knows he has a responsibility to help the team's attackers out - whoever is playing.
"Everybody has to chip in with creating chances for our strikers," said the former England international.
'I had a great time at Derby, so I wanted to show a bit of respect'
"For us midfielders, it's about giving them as many opportunities to do that as we can.
"And for our back players, it's a case of cutting out mistakes and keeping clean sheets.
"So it's a collective thing."
Mason Bennett
Tom Huddlestone
Pride Park
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