Outcast Rangers loanee George Edmundson could miss the remainder of Derby's season after a hernia knock.
The 23-year-old had broken into the Pride Park first team having been shipped out on loan by Steven Gerrard in the midst of the Covid protocol breach fallout.
However, the centre-back limped off during the clash with Millwall on March 13 and has been sidelined since.
Boss Wayne Rooney has revealed that Edmundson could be set for surgery on his latest injury and would miss the remainder of the Championship campaign if that goes ahead.
He told the Derby Telegraph: "Before George came to us [on loan from Rangers] he had surgery on a hernia and he has a hernia on the other side.
"It is a decision we have to make whether he has surgery on it or not, but I think he will be out for two or three weeks."
Derby are facing a battle for survival in the second tier and Edmundson's arrival had coincided with an upturn in from.
He has made six appearances so far for the Rams after his January exit from the Scottish Premiership.
The towering defender and Jordan Jones were hit with seven-game bans for breaching protocols last year.
