Derby County suffer Jake Buxton injury blow

Derby County's waning automatic-promotion hopes have been further hit by news that centre-back Jake Buxton could miss the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old requires surgery on a back injury and is likely to be out for up to eight weeks.

"Jake could be out for up to eight weeks, so that is a blow," Rams coach Paul Simpson confirmed to BBC Radio Derby.

Buxton played in 48 of Derby's 49 Championship games, including the playoffs, last season, but has made just 19 league appearances this term because of competition from Ryan Shotton.

Derby are just one point clear of seventh-placed Brentford outside the Championship playoffs following a six-game winless streak.

However, with the Championship promotion race extremely close, Derby are also only six points behind league leaders Bournemouth.