Derby hit by Barker injury blow

Barker's brief career at the Rams has been blighted by injury

Derby County could be without injury-stricken centre-back Shaun Barker for another four weeks.

The 27-year-old will miss the trips to Leicester and Middlesbrough after a recurrence of a thigh strain that kept him out for the start of the season.

Rams manager Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby: "He's had a scan but it's a bit inconclusive.

"He's got a tear in his thigh. It may be that he's been playing with it, so we're getting a second opinion on it."

"The initial one said if he continued to play and train there would be a risk of him rupturing it, which would be an eight-week absence.

"We'll wait and see and we'll be guided by him as well."

Barker has played just seven times since his summer switch from Blackpool.

Clough will now be hoping that Dean Leacock is fit to return to partner Jay McEveley at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.