Derby County face a critical fitness decision on Joe Ward ahead of their next Championship fixture. Manager John Eustace confirmed the 31-year-old midfielder will be assessed after a back spasm ruled him out of the recent 4-1 defeat at Millwall. The club's form is a deep concern, having taken just seven points from 14 games, with a record of one win and four draws against nine losses.
Ward will only feature against Norwich City if he is deemed fully fit. His potential absence comes at a difficult time, with his current contract due to expire in June 2027, meaning the club could lose a key player for free next summer. The club's medical staff are working to manage the issue, with Eustace stating a late call will be made on his availability.
Squad options amid defensive crisis
Should Ward remain unavailable, 22-year-old Max Johnston is ready to step in. Johnston replaced Ward at The Den and is prepared to start again if required. The defensive situation is a significant concern for a side that has conceded 29 goals in 14 league games, leaving them with the worst defensive record in the division. This has contributed heavily to their precarious position near the foot of the Championship standings.
Relegation pressure intensifies
That heavy loss to Millwall dropped Derby to 23rd in the Championship table, four points from safety. Their form is a major worry, with just one win all season and a run of four defeats in their last five matches, a sequence of zero wins, one draw and four losses. They sit 21 points behind leaders Middlesbrough, a stark illustration of the gap they must close.
The urgency is heightened by the memory of their last meeting with Norwich, a 4-0 home defeat just days ago. Anthony Musaba, Paris Maghoma, Darlin Yongwa and J. Makama scored for the Canaries in that one-sided contest. The team's confidence is understood to be fragile following that result and the subsequent loss at Millwall, part of a run where they have lost their last two games.
With only seven points on the board, every selection call carries extra weight. The club's next match is at home to 16th-placed Bolton on Friday, 6 November. Eustace and his staff must weigh the risk of playing Ward against the need for points in a must-win game, with the manager acknowledging the upcoming fixture is key to their survival hopes.
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