Paul Warne issues Derby County injury update as attacker set to miss season start
Paul Warne says striker Conor Washington could be involved against Sheffield United next weekend if he comes through training, but admitted Derby County attacker Louie Sibley is set to miss the start of the season.
The Rams are nursing several minor knocks at the moment with Callum Elder having picked up a hip problem in Spain while Tom Barkhuizen has a calf issue.
Washington, meanwhile, has yet to make an appearance since signing from Rotherham United having undergone rehab following a minor op on his knee earlier this year.
But the forward is set to be involved in training next week which could see him play 20 minutes when Derby round off their pre-season preparation against Premier League United.
Elder is likely to resume training a week on Monday while Barkhuizen could also be involved against the Blades depending on how he is next week. But Warne conceded that Sibley looks set to miss the curtain-raiser against Wigan.
“Louie and Tom both had calf issues,” he said. “We thought he (Sibley) was coming back but on Thursday, he did some more running and then it felt a bit tighter.
“That doesn’t really give him (Elder) enough time to be fit for the first game. Wash is all about energy and he does need some training obviously. I’d like to try to get him minutes next week. Ideally, he will come through a week’s training and play a part next week for 20 minutes or something.
“He’s done loads with the physios, and if he comes through this week then we can put him on the pitch. But if’s he not right, then he won’t. Hopefully, he will play a part next week.”
Korey Smith, however, did return for the 3-0 win over Stoke as he played 45 minutes against the Potters before being replaced at half-time. Kane Wilson also came on at the break after picking up a knock in Spain which caused him to miss the win over Chesterfield in midweek.
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Derby County continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win over Stoke City in Craig Forsyth’s testimonial at Pride Park.
Goals from Curtis Nelson, James Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, which all came in the first half, secured the victory in an impressive performance against the Championship Potters.
Derby will round off their pre-season preparations against Sheffield United on Saturday before the season begins with a home clash against Wigan Athletic in League One.
As part of the build-up to the game against the Blades, here is the latest Derby notebook with all the latest titbits and news from Pride Park.
One striker who has been continually linked with a move to Derby has been Jordan Rhodes with the forward’s future at Huddersfield looking uncertain.
The former Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday forward was not involved in their friendly against Stockport on Saturday even though he was on the bench.
And according to our friends at Yorkshire Live, Rhodes looks to be firmly down the pecking order under Neil Warnock.
They write: “If Warnock actually intended to use Rhodes prominently then he would have been given at least some minutes, but at this stage he seems to be firmly behind Danny Ward and Kian Harratt for a lone striker role, and behind Josh Koroma – and quite possibly Kyle Hudlin and Pat Jones – in a front two. (Interestingly, though, Tyreece Simpson was not taken to Stockport).
“It’s no secret that Town want a new striker this summer as a top priority, but claims that Rhodes will be kept on at the club until that signing is made don’t quite add up to us. For one: Rhodes started just once under Neil Warnock last season, after safety had already been secured, and wasn’t picked even for a couple of games Ward was unavailable for.”
One to keep an eye on.
Paul Warne has ruled out forking out a transfer fee on a striker this summer as he continues his quest to add to his forward line.
The Rams head coach says a free transfer or loan are the options open to him after admitting buying a player would only allow him to bring just one player in.
But Warne wants another left wing-back and also hopes to add a creative midfielder as well as a forward to his squad if the budget it allows it.
Speaking after the 3-0 win over Stoke City at the weekend, Warne said: “If I wanted to buy a player it would have to come out of my budget and I only have so much left for wages.
“It would have to be an unbelievable player but if I am buying a player for £200k-£300k then I am not sure he’s unbelievable.
“So if I buy a player for that amount, plus his wages, then I can only bring one player in if that’s the case.
“I have to make good decisions for the football club and the team, I understand that.
“But if we are going to get a player in who is better than what we have here and he is currently under contract, then you’re going to do well to get a number nine for £200k.
“It’s either a free or a loan. Those our options.”
You may recall last season that’s Derby’s players were given a Monday off last season if they managed to score a goal from set-pieces.
Suffice to say, they didn’t enjoy many given scoring goals given Derby were hardly proficient from deadball situations.
But the same carrot will be offered to this season’s squad once the real fun and games begin against Wigan on the opening day of the season.
Although Curtis Nelson scored from a corner in the 3-0 win over Stoke, the players were back in training today because pre-season friendlies don’t count.
“The fact that Curtis scored from a set-piece was great and they normally have a Monday off if that was the case,” said Warne.
“But they can’t this week. But I love a Monday off. It’s a long weekend. Who doesn’t want time with their families? Who wants to be at work? No-one.”
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