Derby County have a number of injury issues heading into the final few games of the season, with Paul Warne giving an update on one star.
Derby County boss Paul Warne has confirmed that star defender Ryan Nyambe will miss the rest of the season through injury. The right-back suffered a quad issue in the home clash with Charlton Athletic in late February and has required an operation since.
The Rams pushed hard to land Nyambe earlier this campaign, who was a free agent following his exit from Wigan Athletic. He came in to help with injuries to Joe Ward and Kane Wilson, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter.
Nyambe’s short-term deal was extended on Christmas day, as it was confirmed that he put pen to paper on a contract until 2025. A spell with Namibia in the Africa Cup of Nations followed, before his return to club action.
Ryan Nyambe injury update
The clash with Charlton at Pride Park saw Nyambe substituted late on for Wilson, with Warne later confirming it was due to injury. A scan followed and there was some hope of a return soon, though the manager was coy on the time frame.
It appears as though the full-back will be unavailable for the final run of games though, coming as a huge blow. Warne said, via BBC Radio Derby: “He’s [Ryan Nyambe] had an operation. Unfortunately, his season is over, which is disappointing.”
It comes as a huge blow to the Rams, who have eight huge games ahead of them to try and confirm promotion from League One. With Bolton Wanderers up next, it will be time for the squad to chip in with huge performances.
Squad options
It’s the news that no Derby fan would have wanted, but fortunately, there are still options in the squad for the manager to choose from. Ward has started to hit some form at wing-back, with his quality of crossing starting to pay dividends.
The former Peterborough man has been influential from set-pieces and crossing positions in recent weeks. Three assists in his last three games will certainly boost his confidence coming into a key run of games.
There’s also Wilson that has shown plenty of quality, but appears to be fighting for his place back in the team. Beyond that, should injuries stack up, Curtis Nelson has played there this season, while Korey Smith is also an option at right-back.
Comparing it to the squad situation last season, it’s clear that improvements have been made to bolster the number of players available for the important moments in the season.