Injuries latest at Pride Park

Last updated : 24 June 2010 By Rams Mad Editor

Shaun Barker
Shaun Barker being treated carefully by the Rams training staff after his succesful operation on his knee at the end of last season
It seems that the sick and injured will just not go away, and that is not a quote from new Prime minister David Cameron but the problems still facing Derby County as Pre-season training looms onto the horizon.

Last season was a nightmare, as injuries robbed the Rams of key and influential players at differing times throughout the 2009-10 season. Giles Barnes and Miles Addison were just two of last seasons long term absentees. Addison is now slowly making an improvement and could add to the squad of Nigel Clough at some point in the coming season.

Jake Buxton
Jake Buxton suffering at present from a mystery injury problem will miss the start of pre-season training
At present Jake Buxton, who forced himself into the Rams squad following a move from Burton Albion finds himself struggling with a mystery problem that forced him to miss games at the end of the last season. The problem centres around the groin and stomach area for Buxton and despite investigations by specialists there has still not been a definitive diagnosis of the problem. This now looks to have ruled him out of pre-season training, which starts next month.

Better news for Rams player of the year and winner of the Jack Stamps trophy, Shaun Barker. He is deemed fit to start pre-season training after an operation to 'clear-out' his knee. The operation removed small pieces of floating cartilage . Although Barker has been given the all clear to resume training, it is thought that Nigel Clough will be asking training staff to take it easy on Barker and was quoted as saying, "Shaun will be treated carefully". This will give him the maximum opportunity to be fighting fit for the opening game of the season at Elland Road, home of Leeds United.

Barker is currently back at Moor Farm, ahead of most of his team mates to get some one to one training in a bid to get him back to a state of fitness comparable with the rest of the squad.

Nigel Clough has his fingers crossed that he, and his squad will not have to suffer the same injury crisis suffered last season and key and returning players will strengthen the squad for the 2010-11 campaign...