Forsyth facing another spell on the sidelines

Former Dundee defender Craig Forsyth has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is set for another lengthy absence.

Forsyth, 27, suffered the injury during the goalless draw with Aston Villa at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.

It is the Scotland international’s second serious knee injury in the space of 10 months and the same injury that forced him to miss a large part of last season.

The left-back made his first competitive appearance since November in this month’s EFL Cup first-round victory over Grimsby.

“This is incredibly unfortunate and disappointing news for Craig,” Derby boss Nigel Pearson said.

“He worked incredibly hard to get back to fitness for the start of pre-season training and had done well in the early-season games.

“He will have all the support and encouragement that he needs from everyone at the club during his rehabilitation work.

“He is a tremendous character and a popular member of the squad.

“We’re certainly not putting a timeframe on when he will be back, but what is of paramount importance is that he returns once again to be an important member of our squad.”

Forsyth scored Derby’s only league goal so far this season with an 87thminute header in a 1-0 victory at Preston last week.