Rams face defensive crisis

Derby set to be without Leacock and Albrechtsen for next fixture

Last updated: 6th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rams face defensive crisis

Albrechtsen: May require surgery

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Derby face the prospect of tackling their next Championship fixture without their first choice centre-halves.

Dean Leacock will definitely be missing for the Rams when domestic action reconvenes after the international break after collecting a fifth yellow card of the season in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Norwich.

Meanwhile, his partner at the heart of the Derby defence Martin Albrechtsen remains an injury doubt.

The Denmark international is struggling with a hamstring problem and faces a race against time to be fit for a home date with Plymouth on 18th October.

The former West Brom man is also carrying a groin complaint and Derby may decide to send him under the knife to avoid further complications in the future.

Decisions

"Martin's hamstring is not too bad but he may well need a groin operation. We will know more today (Monday) or tomorrow," Rams boss Paul Jewell told the Derby Evening Telegraph.

"There is no tear in the hamstring, the scan was clear, but he has had an ongoing groin problem.

"So we have got decisions to make but we can make them with a clear head."

Should Jewell's defensive concerns deteriorate, the emergency loan market is open for business and replacements can be obtained at short notice.