Derby County Faces West Ham: Injury Concerns and New Arrivals
Derby County head to the capital this weekend staring down one of the sternest tests of their summer – a trip to title favourites West Ham United at the London Stadium.
John Eustace’s side arrive on the back of a morale-boosting win at Portsmouth on Tuesday, but the step up is obvious. West Ham brushed aside Wolves in midweek. Derby are patched up, reshuffled and walking a tightrope between momentum and mounting injuries.
The one boost? Three deadline-day arrivals – Eiran Cashin, Mohammed Fuseini and David Ozoh – are now available to be drafted into the squad. They may be needed.
Treatment Room
Here’s how Derby’s treatment room looks before they face the Hammers.
Carlton Morris – short-term, but untimely
Carlton Morris has already felt the strain of Derby’s start. The striker picked up a calf problem in the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City and has not featured since, missing the defeat to Swansea and the win at Portsmouth.
Eustace expects him to be sidelined for around two weeks. In isolation, that’s manageable. In the context of a trip to West Ham and a thin forward line, it’s a significant absence.
Craig Forsyth – worrying scenes, anxious wait
Craig Forsyth’s night against Portsmouth ended in worrying fashion. The veteran defender had to be withdrawn in the second half and was helped from the pitch, the images far from encouraging.
“It doesn’t look good,” Eustace admitted afterwards. “He’s not very comfortable down in the dressing room at the moment.
“I thought he was excellent with his experience and know-how. I thought he was top drawer, as were the rest of the boys.”
The manager is expected to provide a fuller update in his pre-West Ham press conference, but the tone was already ominous. Losing Forsyth, given his nous and leadership, would bite hard.
Lewis Travis – captain sent for a scan
Derby’s skipper Lewis Travis is another major doubt. He took a heavy knock in the second half of the 3-0 defeat at Swansea and was forced off late on.
He then missed the win at Portsmouth and has been sent for a scan to assess the damage. Eustace will inevitably face questions over his captain’s availability before the weekend. Until those results land, Derby are braced for bad news but hoping for a reprieve.
Derry Murkin – from promise to four-month setback
Derry Murkin’s story is one of early promise abruptly checked. The full-back underwent minor back surgery and has not played since the 2-1 defeat to Norwich in April.
He attacked his rehab over the summer, even taking part in an open training session before the first game of the season. He was named in an under-21s fixture against Hull City, only to pull out with a hamstring injury.
Eustace confirmed last week that Murkin will now be out for four months. It is a heavy blow for a January signing from Utrecht who had made an impressive start at the club. On Instagram, Murkin tried to reset his mindset, posting: “Road to recovery starts now” and adding, tellingly, “And stay fit would be nice”.
Matt Clarke – 12-week absence confirmed
Matt Clarke is another long-term casualty. The defender came off at half-time during the Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City with a calf issue and was later seen in a protective boot as a precaution.
He missed the opening-day loss to Charlton, then the draw with Cardiff. Before that Cardiff game, Eustace delivered the blunt reality: Clarke is expected to be out for around 12 weeks.
“I think he’ll be out for 12 weeks so that’s a huge blow,” he said.
“But it gives somebody else an opportunity to step up and do well.
“I think when you look at Patrick and Matt being out, they are two hugely influential players for us.
“But, again, it gives somebody else the opportunity. We try to create a no-excuse culture here, and whoever steps up will be ready.
“It’s about the squad. It’s always about the squad of players, and they’ll roll their sleeves up and always give their best.
“Sometimes you might not get the results that you want, but over the course of the season, we’ll be good with the group of players that we have.”
The message is clear: no hiding place, no excuses.
Patrick Agyemang – long road back from Achilles rupture
Patrick Agyemang’s absence stretches back to April and will define a large chunk of Derby’s season. The USA international ruptured his Achilles in the win over Stoke City, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup and is expected to keep him out until December or January.
The £5.8m striker, a standout at Pride Park last season, has been working at Moor Farm through the summer, building back carefully. Derby will not rush him. They cannot afford to, not with the severity of the injury and his importance to the club’s long-term plans.
So Derby head to West Ham with fresh faces, but also fresh scars. Title favourites await, the London Stadium looms, and Eustace’s squad will be asked once again to live up to that “no-excuse culture”.
Who steps forward now, with so many leaders in the stands rather than on the pitch?
