Powell in line to plug the gap

DERBY County manager Paul Jewell has turned to former Southampton and Crystal Palace defender Darren Powell in a bid to increase his options at the back.

The 32-year-old centre-back trained with the Rams yesterday and is expected to sign for the club today.

Powell was released by Southampton in July and is currently without a club, so he is a free agent.

That means he can join a team outside the transfer window.

The London-born player has been training with Charlton Athletic this season and featured in a reserve team game against Crystal Palace on Monday night, in which he played an hour before being forced off with a head injury.

It is understood the Addicks have offered him a deal but Derby are look set to land the 6ft 3in stopper.

Jewell has been looking to bring in defensive cover following injuries to first-choice duo Martin Albrechtsen (calf) and Dean Leacock (groin).

Both players missed Saturday's 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and are major doubts for Saturday's Championship match against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Their replacements, Claude Davis and Lewin Nyatanga, are both on international duty this week with Jamaica and Wales respectively, leaving Jewell crossing his fingers that they return to Moor Farm unscathed.

The recruitment of Powell would ease this burden somewhat, although he has not played a first-team game since the beginning on May.

After starting out with Hampton and Richmond Borough, Powell began his professional career with Brentford, where he made 150 appearances.

He was snapped up by Palace for £400,000 in August 2002 and went on to play 71 times for the Selhurst Park club.

Following a loan spell with West Ham United, Powell moved to Southampton on a Bosman free transfer in July 2005.

He made 49 appearances for the Saints, some of them as captain, before his release this summer following the arrival of head coach Jan Poortvliet at St Mary's.