JAMIE Ward fitness will be assessed ahead of Derby County's game against Ipswich Town tomorrow but the Rams will again be without Simon Dawkins.

A hamstring problem forced Ward off six minutes before half-time in Saturday’s 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

He was replaced by Johnny Russell, who scored Derby’s fourth goal with a stunning strike.

“We hope Wardy’s injury is not too severe,” said head coach Steve McClaren, “but it’s not about the one to 11, we have a good squad here.”

Dawkins missed the Forest game with a groin injury.

“He picked up the injury in training on Tuesday. He is out for the next week or two,” said first-team coach Paul Simpson.

Bamford came in for Dawkins and had a hand in three of the Rams’ five goals.

John Eustace will serve the second of his two-match ban when Derby travel to Portman Road and with Will Hughes (groin) not risked as a starter against Forest, George Thorne was handed his debut, having signed on loan from West Bromwich Albion seven weeks ago.

Thorne filled the holding role in midfield and his performance was praised by McClaren.

“What a big game to come into, a lot of pressure,” said McClaren.

“George has waited and been patient. He got his opportunity and did well.

“It is about balance in that midfield area. John Eustace does a great job for us and George went in and did the same which gave us great balance and allowed Jeff Hendrick and Craig Bryson to make their runs.”

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Jamie-Ward-assessed-Simon-Dawkins/story-20843528-detail/story.html

Need Dawks back!

Not sure we do, looking at how Russell took his chance venomously at the first sight of Darlow's bleary eyes!

 

Dawks is tricky and skilful, Russell is direct and determined - both would do fine for me, as starters or super-subs

Steve Nicholson ‏@SNicholsonDT 2m

Jamie Ward (hamstring) out of Derby's game at Ipswich tomorrow. Dawkins (groin) still out #dcfc
 

Steve Nicholson ‏@SNicholsonDT  1m

Jamie Ward (hamstring) out of Derby's game at Ipswich tomorrow. Dawkins (groin) still out #dcfc

 

It is what it is!

 

So only Russell with outright natural width - Mason recall? Unless I am mistaken our bench based on Sat will read: Legzdins, Naylor, Bailey, Sammon, Hughes, Whitbread and......OB?!

 

Eagles in! ;-) 

The unavailables are piling up. No Barker, Ward, Bennett, Davies, Dawkins, Coutts, Eustace.

Only really leaves OB if fit, Hanson and Max Lowe.

Lowes out for a while had op on his ankle I think, can they recall Mason?

I suspect a dabble in the loan market wouldn't hurt. 

 

Sammon is the only attacking presence on tomorrow night's bench and this isn't our style when we want to change a game. Can't see SM liking it that way.

Oh, woe unto us and our injuries. Whatever shall we do. We're all doomed, doomed!!!

 

Would be a good opportunity for Mason to get involved though, if we're able to recall him (I bet forest would love to be able to recall Miller about now).

 

I'm confident we'll manage though. Eustace will be back next game, so at least we'll be able to fill the bench, and Dawkins and Ward look like they're only out for a week or two.

Just goes to show that our squad isn't all that big. A suspension and a couple of injuries and it's affecting the bench quality.

Can't recall Bennett as he hasn't been at Chesterfield for 28 days yet. I imagine Mac's got targets in mind - but Eagles seems to be dead in the water.

Pretty sure you can't recall Emergency Loans within the first month so Bennett isn't the solution.

Derby County midfielder Will Hughes returned to training today following a hip injury.

Hughes has missed two games but the 18-year-old could be back in the squad for Saturday’s Championship clash against Middlesbrough.

Simon Dawkins (groin) is still out and although Jamie Ward (hamstring) has been doing some running, he looks set to miss the Middlesbrough game.

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Hughes-training-Rams/story-20892716-detail/story.html