Derby County have faced an injury blow ahead of the Championship season opener away at Blackburn Rovers.
Despite making several key signings in the centre-of-the-park, Derby County’s pre-season looks to have sprung up a few issues ahead of the new season, with squad depth still a notable issue across the park.
The injury of Jake Rooney at centre-back has left options incredibly light in defence, however Paul Warne will only look to bolster the position if there is an available option to improve his side, as opposed to just bringing in ranks to provide squad depth.
However, Warne has noticed the necessity of bringing in reinforcements across the frontline, despite the arrivals of Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson ahead of the new season.
The former Rotherham United boss has very much made his views clear on the positions he will look to bolster, however the necessity to improve attacking options may be very much emphasised ahead of the Championship opening game after a recent injury hit to Warne’s squad.
Derby County wingers Corey Blackett-Taylor and Joe Ward ‘out of the season opener’
Derby County are set to be without Corey Blackett-Taylor against Blackburn Rovers, with the winger set to be ‘out of the season opener’, per Dominic Dietrich on X.
It is a ‘quad issue’ that has affected Blackett-Taylor’s chance to shine for Warne’s side in the first Championship game of the season, however he is ‘set to be back on the grass next week’.
Fellow winger Joe Ward is also set to be absent from the clash with Blackburn Rovers on Friday after he has ‘fluid on his knee’, leaving wide options to be very scarce for Warne’s side.
- READ MORE: When Derby County can expect to sign Jacob Widell Zetterstrom after already completing medical
Derby County injuries highlight the necessity for squad depth
The injuries to Warne’s side have left Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as the only recognised right-winger in the side, although Tom Barkhuizen could be called upon to switch wing, as could new signing Kenzo Goudmijn, who is able to provide utility and depth to many positions across the pitch.
There is so much riding on Derby County having a positive start to the campaign, and having a lacklustre quantity of wide options could very well be detrimental to how the Rams fare.
It is incredibly unfortunate that Derby County are having to face a lack of options in their attack for the opening game, however this highlights something that could be a recurring issue for Warne’s side, and therefore signings must be made quickly in order to diminish the chances of repeated injury troubles on the flanks.
Warne doesn’t necessarily have to break the budget to bring signings in, however depth must be needed in the off-chance of multiple injuries occurring at once.