John Eustace issues Carlton Morris update and defends Derby team selection

Derby County will be without Carlton Morris for at least a fortnight after the striker picked up a soft-tissue injury.

The 30-year-old had played all but two minutes of the Rams’ first three matches so far this term but missed the 3-0 loss to Swansea City.

Derby had to hand Lars-Jorgen Salvesen just the tenth Championship start of his career against the Swans and the Norwegian was unable to spark a side that did not have even a single shot on target.

Filip Bilbija was given another 20 minutes and his second outing since his move from Paderborn as John Eustace tries to pick his way through a player shortage.

With Matt Clarke, Derry Murkin and Patrick Agyemang already out, he could have done without Morris’ set-back and revealed: “He's out with a calf problem which will probably be a couple of weeks.”

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Eustace also explained why Lewis Travis came off at the end of the game, compelling the Rams to finish with ten players. “He took a kick to the leg, so we'll just wait and see on that.”

The head coach went on to explain his team selection, with his half-time changes producing a much better 20 minutes than anything the starting XI produced in 45, as Sammie Szmodics, Rhian Brewster and Joe Ward all replaced the ineffective Ryan Hedges, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Max Johnston.

“You can say why did we drop off the pace for the last 20 minutes? Because the players who came on aren't fit enough,” he said.

“I didn't want to bring them on at half-time, they're not fit, I have to try and pick the team that's the fittest team.

“First half we conceded two goals at real bad times, which is a kick in the teeth, Sammie who's trained one day after having a thigh strain, shouldn't have been really on the pitch for more than 20 minutes today.

“But we have to try and make something happen at half-time. Rhian is still getting up to fitness, Filip Bilbija, you can see [is] not fit enough at the moment, he's getting to grips with the league.

“It’s just about trying to get the right balance for the group. We've got a three game week coming up and I'm trying to manage the right minutes for the players when they're not as fit as what people might think.”

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