Warne expects Cashin to play against Sheff Utd

Derby County boss Paul Warne expects Eiran Cashin to face Sheffield United on Saturday - unless a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion materialises incredibly quickly.

The Rams said the defender was 'categorically not for sale' earlier in the window, but after the seemingly waved farewell to fans after the defeat at Cardiff on Saturday, rumours have grown that the Republic of Ireland under-21 international has his heart set on a move to the Premier League side.

Speaking ahead of third-bottom Derby's home game with Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 GMT) Warne told BBC Radio Derby: "It's at board level. That's out of my paygrade. Cash is training with us – until I get told anything different I don't know.

"As I speak to you (on Thursday morning) I expect him to be available (for Saturday) although I am mature enough to realise in football things can change all the time.

"As I've been told today, when preparing the team, Cash will be a part of it. That is all I know."

Warne insisted he was out of the loop in terms of the speculation but added: "I am led to believe an offer has been in for Cash - whether it's going to be accepted, not accepted, negotiated or not, that's a board-level thing, my concentration is just to prepare the team for the weekend.

"I have spoken to him about it. What me and him talk about is obviously private."

Warne also revealed he was "pretty close" to adding some new signings, but insisted they were not dependant on Cashin leaving Pride Park before Monday's transfer deadline (23:00 GMT).

"We've always had money to invest in the squad so I don't think we're waiting (to see) if Cash goes or doesn't go," Warne said.

"We need to reinforce this squad. We need more goals in the team. I feel like the signings we made in the summer have helped the group and we need to keep trying to make better signings to make the team even better."