No worries as Waghorn recovers to face Cardiff
MARTYN Waghorn is raring to go again for Derby County in tonight’s Championship clash against Cardiff City.
A calf injury kept Waghorn out for two months before he returned as a substitute in the Rams’ defeat by Huddersfield Town.
The striker made his first start of the season in Friday night’s 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and scored a fine free kick, playing 86 minutes before being replaced by Colin Kazim-richards.
“He is absolutely fine - he’s back out on the training pitch after training practising his free kicks!” said specialist first-team coach Liam Rosenior.
“He brings a great energy onto the training pitch every day. He really takes the lead in terms of that.
“It is not just what a top player he is, it is what he brings off the pitch and he is somebody you know was straining at the leash to come and make a difference for us.
“Yes, he was tired on Friday night but he gave us a physical presence in terms of bullying the (Forest) centrehalves and being a constant thorn in their side.
“As a coaching staff, we thought he would probably do 60 or 70 minutes but, by the end, we wanted to keep him on for as long as possible and that is testament not only to him but to all the medical staff at the club who have worked day in, day out to get him in that shape.”
Rosenior said Nathan Byrne is “fine” and trained after picking up a knock on Friday.
Byrne was replaced by Duane Holmes after 76 minutes. Wayne Rooney is set to rejoin Derby’s squad on Friday.
The Rams skipper has missed the last two games, against Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest, following a coronavirus scare.
He has had to self-isolate after unknowingly encountering an individual who later tested positive.
Rooney tested negative for Covid19 himself, but he has had to isolate.
He will also sit out tonight’s game against Cardiff but will be available for the trip to face Bournemouth at the weekend.
“Wayne is officially back on Friday, so we will need to see where he’s at a physical point of view ahead of Saturday,” said Rosenior.
“The main thing is that he and his family are OK at present and we can’t wait to have him in the building.”