Brayford facing six weeks out of action with injury
PLAYER of the year John Brayford is facing six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Derby County say they are still awaiting the results of a scan on the defender who limped out of Saturday's defeat at Southampton.
But manager Nigel Clough fears the worst.
"It doesn't look to promising, so he will be missing for the foreseeable future," said Clough.
"If it is six weeks, which is the norm for this sort of injury, obviously that puts us quite close to the end of the season.
"It's a big blow."
The injury is on the same thigh that gave Brayford problems earlier this season.
He missed nine matches in a two-month spell from mid-October to mid-December and he was out for two matches before the trip to Southampton.
"We look back now and wish we could have left him for that extra few days but there is no way of telling this would happen," said Clough.
"It (his thigh) might have gone against Leicester City on Thursday or next week, or whatever."
Derby are unlikely to dip into the loan market to cover Brayford's absence.
Midfielder Paul Green has filled in at right-back and will continue to do so when Leicester visit Pride Park on Thursday for a televised Championship clash.
Twenty-year-old defender Tom Naylor also comes into the frame.
Derby have been pleased with Naylor's progress since he signed from Mansfield Town. He arrived on loan initially and then in a permanent move last month.
"Tom can play right-back and has done in the Reserves a few times," said Clough.
"It might be a bit much to throw him in at this particular moment, so Greenie will probably deputise there on Thursday.
"We have been pleased with Tom's progress. If we had another five or six points on the board we might well throw him in and keep Greenie in midfield."
Brayford's injury comes ahead of a hectic programme of fixtures in March when Derby will play eight games, including seven in 22 days.
7 Comments
by JohnZFish
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 1:29PM
“This is pathetic -rushed back too quickly because he is the only right back at the club and as usual turn a minor injury into a major one. Now we have to play our best midfield player at right back thus weakening midfield as well. We constantly mis handle injury. Whether this is just bad management or pressure because of such a thin squad, it is hard to say.”
by MISTAWOOD
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 5:15PM
“Naylor should definitely be given a chance in the starting line-up.
We're on 42 points, so realistically we're under no threat of relegation, and despite how high we've occasionally reached - we've never been realistic contenders for promotion/playoffs.
Floating around in mid-table makes it as pressure-free a situation as it could possibly be - the perfect time to try out another young player.
As someone has said earlier - i see no benefit to switching Green back to RB as all that does it weaken the team in 2 positions rather than 1. Putting Naylor in alongside 10 others who are settled in their positions and with each other will help him settle easier too.”
by TADLEYRAMS
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 9:59AM
“This just is not funny any more, Please please NC just go, our best player is now out, against Southampton he was our best threat going forward. NC OUT”
by mystic_sheep
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 9:32AM
“Don't worry john you not be lonely for long, Nathan Tyson will soon keep you company on the treatment table.
Nigel Clough's fully fit army.....”
by Derby_Stu
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 8:59AM
“Totally agree. There's no point signing a player, constantly biggin him up and then saying he's not ready when he's needed!
I try hard not to slate NC but sometimes he does say and do things that frustrate you. Put Naylor in and see if he sinks or swims. We'll probably get beat by Leicester anyway as they'll out muscle our soft midfield again and our strikers will be deprived of service (again!!)”
by AdKempy
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 8:49AM
“Another decision to rush John back has resulted in him being out for longer than needed.
We went into the Southampton game with two full backs that werent gven a chance of playing earlier in the week then when Clough realised we haven't got anyone else he was forced to play both, what a sad state we seem to be in.
im pretty sure for the last two transfer windows CLough has mentioned about the need for full back cover.. Where have we heard that before? a goalscorer maybe...? seems like all these idenfied shortages are actually coming back to bite us...”
by gordonskitbag
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 8:42AM
“Surely we have to take a risk on Naylor at some point soon. He may well not be as effective as Brayford (although IMO the latter has not looked quite right since he came back anyway), but neither is Green at RB and by playing him out of position we weaken the team in two areas instead of just one.
COYR”