Derby County star hailed a ‘force’ must now take chance amid Dwight Gayle injury
Derby County striker Dwight Gayle was injured in the win over Bolton Wanderers and Paul Warne must now replace him for their trip to Northampton Town.
Derby County’s 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers was momentous for so many reasons as Paul Warne‘s men restored a four-point cushion over their promotion rivals in second place while Kane Wilson scored Derby’s 15th goal from the substitutes bench this term – the most in League One.
An enjoyable afternoon at a bouncing Pride Park was overshadowed by the injury to striker Dwight Gayle, who has been a revelation since arriving on a free transfer in February.
Gayle scored for three matches on the bounce as Derby posted victories over Port Vale, Bristol Rovers and Reading. Sadly, in the win against the Trotters, his afternoon was cut short after pulling up with a hamstring injury.
The former Newcastle United hitman was replaced by Korey Smith in the 21st minute, with Warne’s tweak in formation to a 3-5-2 managing to nullify the threat of Bolton dangerman Josh Sheehan.
Gayle’s return to action is unknown and Warne has claimed that a scan is required for the striker, casting doubts over his availability for the final weeks of the season.
Warne must now decide who to replace the 34-year-old with and after coming off the bench, Martyn Waghorn must take his chance to lead their line alongside Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Why Martyn Waghorn must take chance to shine at Derby
Waghorn’s contract at Derby expires in the summer and Warne has offered zero hints over his future at the club.
Nonetheless, with James Collins set to return at the start of April, the Rams top scorer will likely wrestle his way back into the starting XI, leaving Waghorn on the bench.
Gayle’s injury was an untimely one for Derby, but it could pose the perfect opportunity for the veteran striker to prove his worth and rediscover his early-season form.
Waghorn scored five goals in his first four matches in the league as Warne labelled the striker a “real force” following his hat-trick against Peterborough United.
Unfortunately, a calf injury over the festive period saw him miss 16 matches and this was when Collins began to hit a purple patch of form.
In the prerequisite to Collins’ return to the starting XI, the £5k-a-week finisher must grab his opportunity to play alongside Mendez-Laing against Northampton, especially with his contract expiring this summer.
