Sam Baldock to miss out on return to Ashton Gate with Derby County

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has revealed that Sam Baldock will miss out on a return to Ashton Gate to face his former side Bristol City.

The 32-year-old has made 12 appearances for the struggling Rams this season, scoring two goals, as they sit at the bottom of the division.

He penned a short-term contract with Rooney’s side up until January 2022 but faces a tough task to extend his contract.

Hamstring injuries have plagued his time at Pride Park and after sustaining his fourth of the season, he will miss most of this month’s fixtures, including Saturday’s trip to his former side.

"Sam will be a few weeks, three to four. It is nothing serious but we just need to get to the bottom of it,” said Rooney to Derbyshire Live.

“It has happened four times now with his hamstring so we have to make sure we check him over properly - we check his back, his hamstrings, to really find out why it is happening."

Baldock was at Bristol City for three seasons, having joined from West Ham United for an undisclosed fee.

He made an immediate impact, both scoring and assisting once in a win over Severnside rivals Cardiff City.

Baldock would go on to score ten goals that season but was unable to stave off the threat of relegation.

The striker opted to stay at Ashton Gate despite their demotion to the third tier and recorded a personal best for a season, scoring 26 goals in 54 games across all competitions.

He would start the season at City, playing four times but was later snapped up by Brighton & Hove Albion, where he would play for three-and-a-quarter seasons.

Reading then signed him up on a free transfer, where he played 74 times, accumulating 11 goals before ending up at Derby, signing with Phil Jagielka on the same day.

As well as Baldock’s absence, Lee Buchanan is to miss out, after sustaining a knee injury.

The defender has played 15 times this season but now experienced defender Craig Forsyth will have to step up in his absence.

Former Arsenal defender Krystian Bielik is the other long-term absentee having suffered a cruel anterior cruciate ligament injury.

As well as issues with injuries, Bristol City’s opponents face the possibility of going out of business.

A report from the Daily Mail says that the club’s administrators Quantuma are to meet the HMRC about the money it owes to the tax man.

Derby’s future already looks bleak after a 21-point deduction has made Championship safety unlikely.

American businessman Chris Kirchner remains interested in buying the club and was in attendance in Monday’s defeat to Queens Park Rangers.