Derby County striker Martyn Waghorn may have played his last meaningful game for the club after picking up a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Luton Town.
Waghorn joined the Rams for a £5 million fee from Ipswich Town in 2018.
The former Rangers man helped Derby to the playoffs in 2018/19, before posting his best individual campaign at Pride Park under Phillip Cocu last season with 12 goals.
Waghorn, however, has struggled to replicate that form this season.
The 31-year-old has scored just three Championship goals all season, with two of those coming from direct free-kicks on his return from injury back in September.
Waghorn was involved in Derby’s opening goal in the victory over Luton Town on Friday, knocking the ball back across goal for striker partner Lee Gregory to fire in.
Waghorn, however, pulled up with a hamstring injury and came off in the first half.
Derby boss Wayne Rooney told reporters the club will assess the damage, before ruling the striker out of Monday’s clash at Championship playoff hopefuls Reading.
With Waghorn’s contract expiring in the summer, he may have played his last meaningful game for the club even if he manages to make a return before the season end.
Derby have disappointed this season. However, the victory over Luton saw the Rams move eight points clear of the relegation zone with just seven games remaining.
Derby sit on 43 points. It’s likely 46 points will be enough, and a victory over Reading on Monday could then give Rooney the opportunity to start planning for next season.
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