Eiran Cashin and Kane Wilson were both forced off inside the first 25 minutes in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium.
Wilson pulled up inside the Rams’ own box with a hamstring issue, not long after Derby’s young centre-back had been subject to a painful-looking head injury.
Cashin came to blows with his own teammate, Callum Elder, when trying to clear a ball away from Emmanuel Latte Lath. The 22-year-old slid in front of the striker to put the ball out for a corner, however, Elder, who was also trying to stop Latte Lath, came in and made contact with Cashin’s head with his knee.
Despite trying his best to stay on the field, Paul Warne took off his number six in place of Sonny Bradley, who is now anticipated to start the next two fixtures due to concussion protocols, setting up an interesting clash with Luton Town’s rivals, the club that he joined Derby from.
Sonny Bradley’s Luton Town past will bring an edge
The 32-year-old made the jump to the Rams from Luton last summer, after helping the Hatters to Premier League promotion in his final year at the club.
Despite making just 19 appearances in 2022/23, his leadership off the pitch was influential in the Hatters’ rise from the third tier all the way to the top flight in just four years – having brought Championship football back to Kenilworth Road in 2019.
While his record against Watford is not spectacular, he has been on the right side of a result against the Hornets once before, captaining his former side to victory in April 2021, and he can use that experience to help Derby on Saturday.
Bradley will expect a bit of banter as well as vitriol at Vicarage Road, but a fine performance that leads the Rams to all three points will be the perfect way to acknowledge his Luton days while wearing black and white.
The defender will want to win every game he plays in but he might have a little extra motivation against the Hornets.
