Derby County Faces Injury Crisis Before West Ham Clash
Derby County head to the London Stadium this weekend with momentum in their legs but bandages on half the squad. The win at Portsmouth on Tuesday steadied the mood after a bruising start to the season. Now comes West Ham United away – title favourites, ruthless in midweek against Wolves – and John Eustace must piece together a side from a treatment room that is getting uncomfortably crowded.
Three deadline-day arrivals – Eiran Cashin, Mohammed Fuseini and David Ozoh – at least give the head coach fresh options. He may need every one of them.
Morris sidelined up front
Derby will again be without Carlton Morris, their focal point in attack.
The striker suffered a calf problem in the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City and has not kicked a ball since, missing the defeat to Swansea and the win at Portsmouth. Eustace expects him to be out for around another two weeks, a significant absence with such a demanding away trip on the horizon.
Without Morris, Derby lose not just a goalscorer but a reference point who can occupy centre-backs and bring others into play. At West Ham, that kind of outlet is priceless.
Forsyth worry after midweek blow
If Morris’s situation is frustrating, the concern around Craig Forsyth is far more acute.
The veteran defender had to be helped from the pitch in the second half at Fratton Park. The sight alone told its own story. Eustace did not sugar-coat it afterwards.
“It doesn’t look good,” he admitted, adding that Forsyth was “not very comfortable” in the dressing room.
The manager praised the Scot’s display against Portsmouth – “top drawer” with his experience and know-how – and he was right. Forsyth marshalled the back line, set the tone, and then suddenly he was gone.
Derby expect a fuller update when Eustace faces the media before the West Ham game. The mood around Moor Farm suggests the news may not be kind.
Captain Travis sent for scan
Lewis Travis is another key figure in limbo.
The captain took a heavy knock in the second half of the 3-0 defeat at Swansea and had to come off late on. He then sat out the victory at Portsmouth and has been sent for a scan to assess the damage.
The armband, the aggression in midfield, the voice in the huddle – Derby are already missing all of it. Eustace will be pressed for clarity on his skipper’s condition before the weekend, but for now the club waits.
Murkin’s momentum halted
Few players had attacked pre-season with more determination than Derry Murkin. His reward? A cruel double setback.
The full-back underwent minor back surgery and has not featured since the 2-1 defeat to Norwich in April. He worked tirelessly through the summer and even took part in an open training session before the first game of the season. Progress looked promising. He was named in an under-21s match against Hull City, only to pull out with a hamstring injury.
The diagnosis was harsh. Eustace confirmed last week that Murkin faces four months out – a major blow for a January signing from Utrecht who had made such an eye-catching start to life at Pride Park.
Murkin tried to keep perspective on social media, posting “Road to recovery starts now” and adding, with a hint of wryness, “And stay fit would be nice.” Derby will hope the next chapter finally runs in his favour.
Clarke out for three months
At centre-back, the picture is no brighter.
Matt Clarke came off at half-time in the Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City with a calf problem and left the ground in a protective boot. He then missed the opening-day loss to Charlton and the draw with Cardiff. Before that Cardiff fixture, Eustace delivered the verdict: around 12 weeks out.
“I think he’ll be out for 12 weeks so that’s a huge blow,” the head coach said.
He bracketed Clarke with Patrick Agyemang as “two hugely influential players for us,” before leaning on a theme he has hammered home since arriving: no excuses.
It is a bold stance. With Clarke missing, Derby lose composure on the ball and authority in the air. Someone else will have to grow into that role quickly.
Long road back for Agyemang
At the top end of the pitch, Derby’s most explosive forward remains a long-term absentee.
Patrick Agyemang ruptured his Achilles in April’s win over Stoke City, an injury that ended his World Cup hopes and will keep him out until December or January. The £5.8m USA international, such a revelation at Pride Park last season, has spent the summer grafting through rehab at Moor Farm.
Derby will not rush him. They cannot afford to. The club’s investment and his importance to the way they want to play demand patience. When he returns, he has the potential to transform their attacking edge again – but that lies months down the line.
So Derby travel to the capital with new signings in the door, key men in the treatment room and one of the division’s strongest sides waiting for them. Eustace talks about a “no-excuse culture.” The coming weeks will show whether this squad can live up to it, or whether the injuries prove a hurdle even their resolve cannot clear.
