Derby County are under two weeks away from their return to competitive action for the 2025/26 campaign.
It’s been a good pre-season for many reasons so far, with the Rams picking up two wins, a draw and just the one defeat from their opening four friendlies with two more to go this week.
Corey Blackett-Taylor is in fine form after a difficult year-and-a-half since joining the Rams, while Owen Beck is the latest player through the door after he joined the club on loan from Liverpool on Friday.
However, injuries have been stacking up once again for Derby. Matt Clarke was forced off the pitch on Saturday against Burton Albion, while Patrick Agyemang is set to miss the start of the campaign due to a hernia. Yet, supporters will be relieved after Carlton Morris made his debut at the Pirelli Stadium.
Carlton Morris played his first minutes for Derby County on Saturday
The Rams had been using Kemar Roofe, Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu and Lennon Wheeldon throughout pre-season ahead of the weekend, with the former not contracted to the club.
Despite passing his medical, Morris had a slight knock and was forced to miss the first three friendlies. However, he has now returned to the fray and he made his unofficial debut for Derby in the second-half of his new team’s defeat to Burton.
While he was not quite the threat he would have hoped to have been in Staffordshire, it was an exciting moment for supporters, Eustace and the 29-year-old himself.
Now, with games against Solihull Moors and Greek outfit Atromitos to come in pre-season, there is still more than enough time for Morris to get up to full fitness ahead of the Rams’ first Championship fixture against Stoke City.
Carlton Morris will be crucial in the first weeks of the season
With injuries a problem, there will be concerns that Derby do not quite have the depth in key areas as we close in on the new season.
However, now Morris is back in the fray, one huge worry for Eustace has eased; although there will still be concerns if the ex-Luton Town man does sustain another issue.
Paul Warne has backed Derby’s decision to sign Morris, and with Agyemang quite a few weeks away from full fitness, he will be crucial to ensuring that the Rams start the season positively.
Lars-Jorgen Salvesen must also not be forgotten as he returns from injury in the coming months. But, one major issue has been fixed for now.
