Derby winger will miss EFL Cup clash.
Derby County’s Ikechi Anya and Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie in action
Derby County winger Ikechi Anya has confirmed he expects to miss this week’s EFL Cup match against Liverpool.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Anya said his focus is instead on working on making a return for the Rams’ next Championship fixture.
Watford’s Ikechi Anya in action with Queens Park Rangers’ Jake Bidwell
Anya picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw away to Bristol City at the weekend and admits he was in pain.
He said: “I landed on my rib two minutes before the end of the first half. I managed to get through that and got some treatment at half time.
“Every time I tried to run I could feel it and I felt the best course of action was to just come off.
“I am disappointed to be missing out on Tuesday’s game (against Liverpool) but I am looking at the positive side of it and it gives me a full week to try and get ready for the game against Blackburn.”
The winger featured regularly in the Premier League for Watford last season but dropped down a level to feature in the Championship this time around.
Liverpool’s Jon Flanagan in action with Watford’s Ikechi Anya
The game against Liverpool would have provided a notable opportunity to make an impression, but he is not dwelling on it.
Next weekend’s opponents Blackburn Rovers recorded their first win of the season this past weekend, and they may not be the pushovers opposing teams might have expected them to be.
Derby themselves need all the points they can get after a desperately disappointing start to the season which has left them in 20th position with just one win from eight games.
Derby County manager Nigel Pearson
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