Derby County will try to keep their perfect home record in the Championship when they meet Norwich City this weekend.
After defeating Middlesbrough, Cardiff City, and Bristol City at Pride Park, the Rams will be hoping to keep their momentum going against the Canaries.
However, there are some injury concerns for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side, who sit one spot below the Rams in the table after winning two and drawing two of their first six games.
Callum Elder, David Ozoh, Liam Thompson, Jake Rooney, and Tom Barkhuizen are all nursing injuries, with some likely to return sooner rather than later. Ahead of what promises to be an exciting match against the Canaries, here’s the latest from the treatment table, with head coach Paul Warne expected to provide a stronger update on Thursday.
1. Callum Elder
The Australian appeared to be in pain when he was substituted in the second half against Sheffield United. The former Hull City and Leicester City defender will undoubtedly be sent for a scan to assess the extent of the injury.
“Callum felt his groin when he got corkscrewed up for the penalty claim in the second half,” Warne told ESPN. “He signaled the bench, and we attempted to get him off. And, in the pinnacle of sod’s law, they challenge him again, and he simply overstretches.
“I believe, and by asking the player if he is okay and they say no or not, poor gaffer, his look when he replied no suggests to me that he has injured his groin, which is a setback for him and the squad. “He’s been excellent.”
2. David Ozoh
The midfielder will be out until after the next international break after sustaining a hamstring strain.
Warne stated the Crystal Palace on-loan teenager was “down in the dumps” over the injury, but the recovery time is not as long as expected. Warne indicated last week that he expects to be absent for four to five weeks.
“Obviously, he’s going to be out for a period of time,” he informed me. “We won’t see him after the international break.
“His hamstring has obviously been damaged. It was benign. He simply went down after receiving a pass to the side.
“When a guy goes down like that with no one around him, they’re coming off, and you know they’ll be out for a while, so you prepare for the worst.
“It’s not the worst news, but it takes five to six weeks. At one point, I felt things could have been worse, but he’s fine. I don’t think it’s truly hit him, along with the idea that he won’t be playing on Saturday. I believe it will hit him then, but he is confident in himself.”
3. Tom Barkhuizen
The winger felt his calf during a warm-up in preparation for the win over Cardiff City. He also missed the defeat to Sheffield United, but if his injury is not severe, he might be back in contention to face Norwich this weekend, depending on his development.
Warne will provide a more specific update during his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
4. Liam Thompson
The midfielder felt tightness in his groin after taking a shot in training and has missed the last two matches. The academy graduate isn’t anticipated to return before the international break.
5. Tawanda Chirewa
The on-loan Wolves midfielder was absent over the weekend but is now eligible after undergoing concussion protocol following a head injury sustained while on international duty.
6. Jake Rooney
The defender is making significant progress in his recovery from a knee injury, but he is still a few weeks away from returning. Warne stated this week that he is now back on the grass, which is a good sign of his improvement, though he may well play for the under-21s to get some minutes under his belt when ready.
