Derby County boss accepts pressure as injuries mount and results fail to follow

Manager says results must come despite lengthy treatment room

Derby County's manager has made plain that sympathy will not alter the club's predicament as a raft of injuries has left his squad depleted and the Rams struggling for form in the early weeks of the Championship season.

John Eustace acknowledged the scale of the problem at Pride Park and the reality that supporters and the board will judge him on results, not circumstances. Derby have lost five of their opening seven Championship matches, and the manager said he must find a solution on the pitch.

In outlining the injuries hitting his squad, Eustace confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström has sustained a knee injury and "could be out until November". He joins a list of players currently unavailable, including Matt Clarke, Lewis Travis and Patrick Agyemang, who are all receiving treatment.

• Injured players named by the club: Jacob Widell Zetterström (goalkeeper), Matt Clarke, Lewis Travis, Patrick Agyemang.
• Current league form: Five defeats from seven Championship matches.
• Next fixture: Trip to Burnley (bottom of the table) on Saturday, 3pm kick-off.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Turf Moor, Eustace said:

"Ultimately, I have to find a solution on how to get results, so no one wants to hear me talk about how many injuries we've got and feel sorry for ourselves.

He added that the team must "roll our sleeves up and get on with the challenge ahead", stressing a need to remain competitive and to prepare those available to perform. While the manager acknowledged the negative impact of the absences — saying the "spine has been ripped out of" his side — he sought to place a more constructive emphasis on opportunity.

"It gives opportunities to players who might not expect it, and it gives opportunities to players in the squad who are raring to go," Eustace said. He urged the club to ensure those stepping into the side were as fit as possible and capable of delivering a solid performance.

Approach to Burnley fixture and outlook

Despite their own difficult start after relegation, Eustace refused to take Burnley lightly. He described their squad as "fantastic" and said he expected them to recover and push for promotion:

"The squad's too good not to, and I expect them to be in the top six come the end of the season."

He reported a productive week of preparation at the club's training ground, with the chance to work on the grass seen as a welcome return to normality. "It's been nice to actually do some work on the grass this week, and hopefully we can go there and have a really positive result and enjoy the day," he said.

For supporters in Derby, the immediate concern is pragmatic rather than sympathetic. The manager's message is clear: injuries explain some problems but will not excuse poor results. With a congested treatment room and a challenging fixture list, the coming weeks will test the depth of the squad and the ability of those drafted in to maintain standards.

As the club prepares to travel to Turf Moor, attention will fall on the players available for selection and whether younger or fringe squad members can seize the opportunities Eustace described. For the manager, the measure of progress will always be the points returned — and he has reminded everyone that this remains the primary benchmark.

Derby supporters will be watching closely to see if the club can steady a faltering start and whether the temporary absences will become an extended test of squad resilience. The manager has conceded the challenge — now the players must respond on the field.