Old pals aim to gain the upper hand

MATT Derbyshire could go head to head with an old school pal at Bramall Lane this weekend.

Fellow schoolmate in Blackburn, Paul Gallagher, has been on loan at Sheffield United for the past month.

If, as expected, the expired deal is extended by Gallagher’s club Leicester, Athletic’s in-form striker will have have to work hard to outshine the Scotland international (28) and long-time former Ewood Park team-mate.

On-loan Forest striker Derbyshire gave an emphatic “no” in the Athletic programme when asked if he was the best player at his school — he admitted Gallagher was. But few Athletic fans would want to swap the pair right now.

Derbyshire is one of the most in-form strikers in the league, with three goals in six games.

"He has been excellent on and off the pitch," said manager Paul Dickov.

Though United have won only five of their 11 games, the other six have been draws.