LAMPARD RUES KO TO CLUB CAPTAIN DAVIES
CURTIS Davies is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines after the Derby County defender suffered an Achilles injury.
The 33-year-old was making just his fifth appearance of the season when he was stretchered off in the 2-1 loss at Stoke on Wednesday night.
Boss Frank Lampard and Davies confirmed following the game that it was a serious injury that will keep him out of action for a sustained period.
Davies posted on his Instagram page: “Absolutely gutted to be set for an extended spell on the sidelines. I’ve been here before and I’m ready to put in the work to come back stronger. Thanks for all the messages.
“Also I want to say fair play to the Stoke players that came to see me and wish me well.
“With all the heat and emotion of the game, it was nice to see the human element was still there.”
It comes as a blow to Lampard, whose side have stuttered of late, and the absence of an experienced player is likely to hit them hard ahead of the festive period.
The Derby boss said: “He is one of the leaders. He is the club captain and I feel for him and I feel for the group. We need everyone in the squad.
“People like to look at our squad and think it’s big but, when we have had a few crucial injuries, the numbers aren’t looking, so great so it’s a loss.
“The idea that it might be a long-term injury is difficult for Curtis, but we will support him.”
The injury to Davies is not the only problem to have hit the Derby squad in recent weeks, with Craig Forsyth and Mason Bennett also going down to respective knee and hamstring injuries.
“They are all freak non-impact injuries and they’ve all come at once,” added Lampard. “It’s one of those periods where we have to dig in.”