DERBY County will run the rule over former Norwich City skipper Mark Fotheringham this week.

The 25-year-old midfielder is due to train with the Rams from today and is expected to figure in Saturday's opening friendly of pre-season against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.

Fotheringham, who represented Scotland at under-21 level, is a free agent after leaving Norwich at the end of last season when his contract expired.

Rams manager Nigel Clough has invited the player to train at Moor Farm.

"One or two will be coming in this week, Mark being one of them," said Clough.

"We are looking to have a practice match on Thursday in-house and he will be involved at Burton on Saturday.

"Taking a look at players is all part of pre-season."

Fotheringham has already had a week-long trial with Spanish club Espanyol.

Coventry City are also reported to be interested in him but Fotheringham said: "Derby manager Nigel Clough has invited me to start pre-season training with them and I like the idea of that."

Dundee-born Fotheringham progressed through the youth ranks at Celtic and made three appearances for the first team.

He moved to his hometown club Dundee in 2003 where he played 59 games.

Two years later, he joined German club SC Freiburg for a season before playing in Switzerland with FC Aarau.

He signed for Norwich in January 2007 and went on to make 76 appearances for the Canaries, scoring four goals.

Everton youngster James Hall could also join Derby on trial. Hall, 20 this month, is a Scottish midfielder who has yet to play a senior game for the Merseyside club although he has been hampered by injuries.

Derby have seven pre-season matches starting at Burton.

The Reserve team also have a number of fixtures.

Clough has indicated he will field two different teams against Burton to give all of his players a run-out.

"The Burton game will be used to give 45 minutes to each player, so we will put two different teams out," said Clough. "That shouldn't tax them too much but we will still be doing a hard week in training leading up to it. The first few days of pre-season went well.

"A couple of players have picked up little strains, Rob Hulse and Mitch Hanson, but apart from that pretty much everybody else has got through."

Middlesbrough could be eyeing striker Hulse.

A report in a Sunday newspaper said Boro want Hulse for £3m but the Rams have not received a bid for last season's leading scorer.