Derby County Faces Tough Test Against West Ham United
Derby County head to the capital this weekend staring down one of the sternest tests of their summer – a trip to title favourites West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Tuesday night’s win over Portsmouth offered momentum and a glimpse of what John Eustace wants this team to be. West Ham’s midweek dismantling of Wolves underlined exactly what Derby are up against.
And Derby will travel with a squad stretched on the treatment table, even if three deadline-day arrivals – Eiran Cashin, Mohammed Fuseini and David Ozoh – bring fresh options and a different feel to the bench.
This is where the squad depth gets tested.
Carlton Morris
Derby will again be without Carlton Morris.
The striker suffered a calf problem in the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City and has not featured since, missing the defeat to Swansea and the victory over Portsmouth. Eustace expects him to be sidelined for around two weeks, ruling him out of the West Ham clash and likely the next run of fixtures.
For a side that needs a focal point away at the title favourites, that absence bites.
Craig Forsyth
Craig Forsyth’s situation is even more worrying.
The veteran defender had to come off in the second half against Portsmouth and needed help to leave the pitch. The images told their own story. Eustace did not sugar-coat it afterwards.
“It doesn’t look good,” he admitted, adding that Forsyth was “not very comfortable” in the dressing room. The head coach praised his display on the night, calling him “excellent” and “top drawer” for his experience and know-how, but the tone around the injury was bleak.
A fuller update is expected when Eustace holds his pre-West Ham press conference, yet the early signs point to a significant setback for one of the dressing room’s leaders.
Lewis Travis
Captain Lewis Travis is another doubt hanging over Derby’s preparations.
He took a heavy knock in the second half of the 3-0 defeat to Swansea and was forced off late on. That blow kept him out of the Portsmouth win, and he has since been sent for a scan to determine the extent of the damage.
The skipper’s availability for the weekend will be a key question for Eustace to answer. Losing your captain before a trip to the London Stadium is the last thing any manager wants.
Derry Murkin
Derry Murkin’s story is one of pure frustration.
The full-back underwent minor back surgery and has not played since the 2-1 defeat to Norwich in April. He spent the summer grafting through rehab and even took part in an open training session before the first game of the season, hinting at a timely return.
He was named in an under-21s fixture against Hull City, only to pull out with a hamstring injury. Just as the door seemed to open, it slammed shut again.
Last week, Eustace confirmed Murkin will be out for four months. A major blow for a player who had impressed following his January move from Utrecht and looked set to kick on. Murkin later posted on Instagram: “Road to recovery starts now” and added, in brackets, “And stay fit would be nice” – a line that captured both his determination and his exasperation.
Matt Clarke
Matt Clarke is another long-term absentee Derby must learn to live without.
The defender came off at half-time during the Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City with a calf problem and was seen in a protective boot as a precaution. He then missed the opening-day loss to Charlton and sat out the draw with Cardiff.
Before that Cardiff game, Eustace confirmed the worst: Clarke is expected to be out for around 12 weeks.
“I think he’ll be out for 12 weeks so that’s a huge blow,” Eustace said. He grouped Clarke with Patrick Agyemang as “two hugely influential players” missing, but stressed that their absence opens the door for others, reiterating his “no-excuse culture” and belief in the wider squad.
The message was clear: no hiding place, no complaints. Someone else has to step in.
Patrick Agyemang
Patrick Agyemang’s absence has been looming over Derby since April.
The USA international ruptured his Achilles in the win over Stoke City, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup and is expected to keep him sidelined until December or January.
He has been working at Moor Farm throughout the summer, putting in the hours on his recovery. But Derby will not rush a £5.8m striker who lit up Pride Park last season. The long game matters with a player of that value and impact.
So Derby go to West Ham with new faces, key leaders missing and a manager leaning hard on his “no excuses” mantra.
Title favourites in their own stadium. A patched-up squad trying to punch up.
This is exactly the kind of afternoon that tells you what a season might become.
