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Derby County will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to West Ham United when they return to Pride Park to face West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night. The Rams head into their first midweek home fixture of the 2026/27 Championship campaign with a number of players unavailable, with John Eustace facing a growing injury list. Eight players are set to miss the meeting with the Baggies, including Rhian Brewster, Craig Forsyth, Lewis Travis, Carlton Morris, Filip Bilbija, Derry Murkin, Matt Clarke and Patrick Agyemang. The latest blow comes in the form of Brewster, who was forced off inside the opening 22 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at the London Stadium. The striker suffered a concussion and will now miss the next couple of matches as he follows the required protocols. Eustace confirmed the news ahead of Wednesday’s clash, admitting it was another setback for a player the club have been carefully building back towards full fitness. “It’s unfortunate he’s got concussion so he won’t be available now for the next couple of games, which is a blow to us,” Eustace said. “It was great to get Rhian into two consecutive games, which he hasn’t done for a long time. We’re trying to build his fitness up for sure, so to lose him again for a couple of games is a blow, but it gives somebody else an opportunity.” Brewster will therefore miss the visit of West Brom before also sitting out Saturday’s home game against Birmingham City. Forsyth Facing Lengthy Spell Out Another significant concern is experienced defender Craig Forsyth, who suffered a knee injury during last week’s victory over Portsmouth. The 35-year-old was forced off during the second half after making an impressive contribution in the 3-0 win, and subsequent assessments have confirmed that he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Forsyth is expected to be out for at least three to four months, with Eustace admitting the injury is a major blow to his squad. “The news is that it’s either going to be three or four months out or a little bit longer,” the head coach said. “It’s a shame for Fozzy, because I thought he stepped in at Pompey and was excellent. He’s never let me down. He’s a fantastic servant to the football club and it’s a big blow to us as a group.” “Hopefully he can come back just after Christmas.” Ryan Nyambe came into the starting XI against West Ham as Forsyth’s replacement. Travis Setback Adds to Midfield Concerns Lewis Travis is also facing several weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury during the defeat to Swansea City. The captain was forced off in the latter stages of the 3-0 loss and subsequently missed the win over Portsmouth. Although the initial concern was that the problem could be more serious, scans provided some better news, with Travis expected to be absent for around four to five weeks. That still represents a significant loss given his experience and importance to the side. Other Absentees Carlton Morris continues to recover from a calf problem suffered during the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City. The forward has already missed the defeats to Swansea and West Ham, as well as the victory at Portsmouth, and is expected to remain out for another week or two. Summer signing Filip Bilbija is another absentee after picking up a back injury, while Derry Murkin remains sidelined following a hamstring problem suffered shortly before he was due to feature for the Under-21s. Murkin had been working his way back after undergoing minor back surgery and had hoped to build up his fitness during the summer. His latest setback has instead left him facing another lengthy spell out. Matt Clarke is also unavailable after suffering a calf injury during the Carabao Cup defeat to Lincoln City. The defender was forced off at half-time and was subsequently placed in a protective boot as a precaution. However, Eustace later confirmed that Clarke is expected to miss around 12 weeks. Patrick Agyemang completes the list of long-term absentees. The USA international has been working his way back from the Achilles injury he suffered in April and has stepped up his rehabilitation by returning to grass work. The striker is not expected to return until the winter, meaning the club will continue to manage his recovery carefully. Eustace Calls for Patience The mounting injury list comes during a period in which the squad is still developing its chemistry following a busy summer transfer window. Eustace acknowledged that the team is still trying to find the right combinations, but believes the players available can continue to deliver results while those on the treatment table work their way back. “If we look at Saturday, that’s Meister’s first start for us. Obviously, Mo coming off the bench, and Ryan Nyambe starting his first game for us in a long time as well,” he said. “So, it’s about getting the chemistry, the right players in the right positions, and just getting everyone up to speed. And we’re still on catch-up; that’s for sure.” The head coach has also stressed that injuries cannot become an excuse, with those waiting for their opportunity now being asked to step up. “It’s about the squad. It’s always about the squad of players, and they’ll roll their sleeves up and always give their best,” Eustace added. “Sometimes you might not get the results that you want, but over the course of the season, we’ll be good with the group of players that we have.” The Rams will hope that philosophy can be put into practice against a West Brom side that has made an encouraging start to the Championship season, with the hosts aiming to secure their first home league victory of the campaign.