The latest Derby County fitness news as John Eustace prepares to take the Rams to Ewood Park
Lewis Travis of Derby County reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Preston North End at Pride Park
Lewis Travis of Derby County is out with a calf problem.(Image: Getty Images)
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Derby County will be without two players for the trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend - but could be boosted by the availablity of Owen Beck.
John Eustace, who makes his first return to Ewood Park since leaving to join the Rams in February, has given a positive update on the on-loan left back who is yet to make his Derby debut.
Liverpool defender Beck is just one of several Rams players who have also represented Rovers, having made 25 appearances for them last season.
Eustace left the door open for what would be a timely reunion: "We will wait and see, he has trained today, we will see how he is tomorrow. If he doesn't make the squad for Saturday I am confident he will be available after the international break.
"It's brilliant, it's great competition for places, he is pushing Fozzy and Cal in that area, it's great that he's back in the squad.
"I think the fitter the squad gets and more availablity can only benefit everyone else, we probbably didn't have that as much as we wanted at the start of the season."
Former Rovers captain Lewis Travis is still out, though and Eustace played down the prospect of the midfielder passing on any insider info.
“We haven’t seen Lew for a while so it is not going to make any difference. He doesn’t need to say what it is going to be like, we have got a really fantastic, professional group in there.
“We have got players who played at the club previously. This is a great game for both teams and I am sure both teams are looking forward to it.”
The captain remains sidelined by a calf problem he picked up prior to the defeat at Oxford United. Max Johnston is a couple of weeks into a six- to eight-week rehabilitation program.
As for Blackburn, they will be without the services of all-action midfielder Sondre Tronstad after he picked up a fifth booking of the season in midweek.
Goalkeeper Balazs Toth will be out for at least 12 weeks after picking up an injury at Bristol City. Defender Scott Wharton also picked up an injury at Ashton Gate but has not yet been ruled out. Todd Cantwell and Moussa Baradji will be out until after the international break.
But Ismael told the the club TV Hayden Carter is 'ready to go' having made just one Championship appearance this season.
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