Derby County forward Sammie Szmodics is expected to be restricted to the sidelines until mid-December after picking up a knee injury ahead of a crucial clash with Bolton Wanderers

Derby forward Sammie Szmodics has been ruled out for six weeks in another fresh injury blow for the Rams.

The Midlands side have been beset by a huge list of injuries this season, which has contributed to their woeful start of just one win from their opening 14 Championship games.

And things have now gotten even worse, with forward Szmodics expected to be sidelined for around six weeks.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday's crucial clash with Bolton Wanderers, Rams boss John Eustace said: "If you look at the amount of injuries that the club have had over the over the first third of the season.

"I don't think it could have happened any other way, you know, we lose Sammie Szmodics today for six weeks. He's got to have knee surgery.

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He added: "We could have picked up three or four victories in the first 12 or 13 games possibly if we had a stronger squad available to see through a game and whatnot.

"But we haven't so over the course of a season, I'm confident we will pick enough points at now to stay in the league, which is the most important thing you know and to lose a player of Sammie Szmodics's quality, although he's been playing at probably three quarters fitness anyway, he's a huge loss to us."

Elsewhere, Eustace has confirmed that each of David Ozoh, Joe Ward and Ryan Hedges are all still missing for the Bolton clash.

The latest injury blow adds huge pressure onto under-fire boss Eustace, who is clinging to his job. But Eustace has confirmed that he hasn't yet had discussions with Derby bosses.

Asked if he had held talks in the aftermath of the defeat to Norwich, Eustace said: "Not about my position, no."

Asked if he had considered walking away, he replied: "No definitely not. Listen, this is a football club I came to to help get back into the Premier League.

"And for the first 15 or 16 months, we were on track with that and there's been a setback for sure, and now we have got to find out a way to make sure that we get enough points firstly, to get to 50 points, you know, to stay in the league. And then let's reassess from there."