Derby County manager John Eustace during the Luton Town clash at Pride Park.
Derby County manager John Eustace.
John Eustace is waiting to see if Owen Beck and Matt Clarke will be availabe for Derby County's Championship opener at Stoke next weekend but Callum Elder is closing in on a return to training.
Beck and Clarke missed with minor niggles, while also sat the game out as rounded off their
Elder has been missing from the squad since suffering a calf problem he picked up against Burton Albion.
Asked if Clarke and Beck would be back for Stoke next weekend when the season gets under way, Derby head coach responded: "They have had slight injury niggles, so we will have to see if they will be available for next week.
"That will be down to the medical department, and if they are available, they are great players to have in your team.
"I am hoping Callum will be back in training at the end of next week. He had a slight pull of the calf at Burton so we will have to wait and see on that."
Derby had a host of injured players in the stands yesterday with Patrick Agyemang recovering from a hernia op while Kane Wilson, Sondre Langas and Lars Jorgen-Salvesen are recovering from knee problems. Curtis Nelson is also out.
Asked whether he had encountered such injury problems before, Eustace said: "I haven't, but it's all part of the journey and managing. It is what it is. All I can promise is that whoever plays, the attitude of the boys has been outstanding since I came through the door.
"The last six weeks have not been any different. The 23s have been training with us and we've had 12 of them training every day.
"That's something I've not been used to but it's been a great experience for them. We've had 12 or 13 first-team players who have been with us regularly for the last six weeks too.
"Altogether, they've done very well and I am very pleased for them."