Derby County’s Joe Ledley has been ruled out of the clash with Nottingham Forest.
Derby County’s Joe Ledley has been ruled out of the upcoming clash with Nottingham Forest with the midfielder suffering a calf injury in the 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers, dcfc.co.uk report.
“Joe has had a scan and it doesn’t seem as bad as was first thought, but he’ll probably still be out for four weeks,” Boss Gary Rowett told the club’s website.
“At this stage of the season, it is a blow, especially with George [Thorne] being out for another two or three weeks, so it leaves us a little bit light, but that’s management and that is the scenario that we’re in.”
Ledley has been an instrumental figure for Derby this season, with his arrival last September largely coinciding with the club’s improvement and subsequent excellent run of form before January.
The Wales international formed a solid partnership alongside fellow holding midfielder Tom Huddlestone, and when he missed a game he had George Thorne waiting to fill in.
His absence against Forest could be seen as a big blow for the Rams, yet actually it may now force Rowett to name a more attacking line-up, especially considering Thorne is also out on the sidelines with injury.
In recent matches the East Midlands side have struggled for rhythm, failing to beat the likes of Millwall, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United despite largely dominating the games.
Derby’s problem in recent weeks has been a lack of prolificacy in the final third, and when coming up against a deep defence, a lack of creativity to break the opposition down.
Forest will likely look to remain solid and play on the counter in the upcoming East Midlands derby, and Derby may have to reshuffle and put a more attack-minded player such as Kasey Palmer in midfield.
The on-loan attacking midfielder has impressed for Derby since his arrival in January, scoring twice, but Rowett has so far seen him as an alternative for top scorer Matej Vydra rather than playing them both at the same time.
Derby fans have called for the two to start a match together, and they could finally get their wish this Sunday as Ledley and Thorne’s injuries mean Rowett may have no other choice in the middle of the park.
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