Following Derby County’s recent pre-season victory over Stoke City, boss Paul Warne delivered an update on the current crop of injured players at the club: Callum Elder, Louie Sibley, Conor Washington and Tom Barkhuizen.
According to BBC Radio Derby’s Dom Dietrich, here are when the Rams’ quartet are set to return to action.
Callum Elder
Having signed as a free agent from Hull City in the summer, Elder has picked up a slight knock during pre-season. Fortunately, it is nothing too serious.
The Australian defender is set to return next week, which will be a big boost for Warne’s Rams ahead of the upcoming season with Liam Thompson recently playing out of position to cover him.
Elder was the third summer addition as part of the Derby rebuild this campaign and comes with high expectations following his previous experience of winning promotion from the third tier.
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He looks set to be a regular under Warne.
Louie Sibley
The Rams’ longest servant on this list, academy graduate Sibley is another who is sidelined at present.
He has made 129 appearances in the famous black and white since his debut back in 2019, scoring 14 goals and assisting six in that time.
Unfortunately for Sibley, it is looking likely that he will be out longer than the rest. It is not believed to be a serious injury, but he is the least likely to make it back in time for Derby’s season opener against Wigan Athletic on August 5th.
Conor Washington
The most recent recruit, Washington is yet to feature for the Rams during pre-season as he is finishing his recovery from an injury sustained at former club Rotherham United.
A Northern Ireland international, the striker scored six times in the Championship for the Millers last season and has previously worked under Warne, albeit very briefly.
Although he may not be back in the squad next week, he is set to return to training.
Alongside James Collins, he is the only senior striker in the squad as it stands. It goes without saying that his return to fitness will be welcomed with open arms.
Tom Barkhuizen
Having signed last summer, Barkhuizen made 48 appearances for the Rams during the 2022/23 campaign, scoring six and assisting five.
He is another who is expected to return to action next week, so should be fit for the campaign opener.