Buxton Set For Eight Weeks Out

Defender's knee injury confirmed.

Derby County defender Jake Buxton has been ruled out of action for around eight weeks with a knee injury.

The central defender underwent a series of scans earlier in the week and after seeing a specialist in London it has been confirmed that Buxton has suffered medial ligament damage in his right knee.

He sustained the injury in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium; a game in which he scored his fourth goal of the campaign.

As a result, Buxton is not expected to be back in first-team contention until some stage in February – meaning he will miss the entire Christmas period and the early games of Derby’s season in 2013.

Manager Nigel Clough said: “Jake is likely to be out for about eight weeks, which is two months of course, so it is a big blow to lose him.

“He’s been one of our most consistent players this season so to lose him is desperately disappointing for the team, and of course Jake himself on a personal note – but the good thing is when he does return he’ll

have plenty of games to get his teeth in to in the last few months of the season.

“With Shaun Barker out injured all season he’s really stepped up to the plate and he’ll be missed that is for sure, but it gives someone else an opportunity now and it’s down to them to take it.”

Since joining Derby in the summer of 2009 from Burton Albion, the 27-year-old has made 65 appearances for the Rams, and endured a difficult spell on the sidelines between March 2010 and November 2011 with a succession of back and groin problems.