This Saturday’s Championship meeting between Southampton and Derby County appears to be a crucial one in the playoff chase.
No other team in the league is in better form than the sixth-placed Saints, who haven’t lost in 16 matches across all competitions, but Derby County are coming off their fifth home win in a row, the finest winning streak at Pride Park since 19/20.
In fact, Southampton has not beaten Derby in a meaningful match since February 2012, which may boost the Rams’ confidence as they aim to rise above seventh in the rankings.
However, the East Midlands club is currently dealing with far greater injury issues than Southampton, despite the fact that Max Johnston, Sondre Langas, and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen all returned to the matchday squad against Stoke City on Easter Monday after long absences.
Josh Vickers, Derby’s backup goalkeeper, has recovered from a groin injury. It was reported at the time that he would be sidelined for around eight weeks.
Starting with the visitors, FLW looks at the eight players that are missing from the game in Hampshire. One Rams player is in contention, but Eustace has not committed to saying whether or not he is ready.
1 Jacob Widell Zetterstrom
After appearing in a ‘full-time scenes’ video uploaded by Derby on social media following their victory over Stoke, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom appears to be edging closer to a return to competitive action – though not anytime soon.
The Rams’ number one has not played since January 23rd, in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, due to virus complications, though head coach John Eustace did tell local media at the start of April that he should be back in full training with the first team in a “couple more weeks.”
2 Callum Elder
Eustace ruled out left-back Callum Elder until after the international break after undergoing knee surgery, while also confirming that he had a toe injury against Hull City in February.
With the Australian’s contract expiring at the end of the season and no update thus far, it’s becoming increasingly likely that he won’t be at the club when 26/27 begins.
3 Owen Eames
According to speculation on a Derby supporters forum, teenager Owen Eames suffered an injury in training, keeping him out of the team for the aforementioned Millwall game, and he hasn’t played any football since.
Although Eames has only played 13 minutes of Championship football this season, the 19-year-old forward has spent a lot of time on the bench as an unused substitute for Eustace.
4 Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster, another Derby player who has undergone knee surgery, will not play for the Rams this season. The 26-year-old sustained the injury after scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Birmingham City before the international break.
Before his injury, Brewster had scored in five of his last ten league appearances, helping the East Midlands club rekindle their playoff chances.
5 Patrick Agyemang
Patrick Agyemang, who suffered a sad Achilles tendon injury against Stoke in Derby’s most recent game, will be arguably the biggest miss for the club against Southampton – and for the rest of the season.
It has now been announced that the 25-year-old will miss the 2018 World Cup, just days after returning from representing the United States against Belgium and Portugal.
Eustace disclosed to BBC Radio Derby that the projected timescale for his eventual return is nine months. Agyemang joined the team last July for a reputed £5.8 million from MLS outfit Charlotte FC.
6 Sammie Szmodics – UNCONFIRMED
When asked about Sammie Szmodics’ return to the squad during his pre-match press conference, Eustace replied, “We’ll have to wait and see.”
This comes after the on-loan Ipswich Town attacker was injured in a collision while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, forcing him to spend the night in hospital.
7 Mads Roerslev
Mads Roerslev, one of Southampton’s injured players, had successful Achilles tendon surgery in February.
According to The Daily Echo, Saints’ head coach Tonda Eckert has not had Roerslev available to him since his appointment as permanent manager, but the player continues to attend first-team sessions at Staplewood.
Eckert stated in his pre-match press conference that no new injuries have occurred since their last game.
8 Alex McCarthy
Alex McCarthy, 36, has not been named in Southampton’s matchday squad since the Watford encounter on February 7th, due to wrist surgery.
The experienced goalkeeper is out of contract in June and, like Roerslev, has not played for Eckert.
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