The Rams captain is playing with a protective cast on his broken hand.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard has commented on Richard Keogh’s hand injury, saying tongue-in-cheek that he “wouldn’t have allowed” him to get surgery at such a crucial time in the Championship season.
The Rams captain broke a bone in his right hand during their goalless draw against Stoke City before the international break, which extended Derby’s unbeaten run in the league to three games.
According to the Derby Telegraph, he saw a specialist but opted not to have surgery so the he could play a part in the club’s promotion run-in, as well as featuring for the Republic of Ireland at the start of their European Championship qualifying campaign.
Keogh started both of the Boys in Green qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia, and is in line to face Rotherham United at Pride Park on Saturday, playing with a protective cast on his hand.
The player himself stated that he wanted to carry on playing as surgery would have seen him sidelined for “a couple of weeks” and, given the injury appears to be manageable for the time being, his manager seems happy to let him get on with helping Derby’s playoff charge.
“I wouldn’t have allowed surgery, we need him!” Lampard said with a smile in conversation to the Derby Telegraph.
“Richard Keogh is a warrior. He is our leader on the pitch and he has been fantastic for me this season. Hence why I haven’t had that communication with him. I just expect him to carry on being that.”
Derby currently sit eighth in the Championship table, one point behind sixth-placed Aston Villa but with a game in hand on Dean Smith’s side.
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