Derby County are set to address their defensive injury crisis with the signing of free agent Shane Duffy.
The Rams have suffered horrendous luck with injuries which have contributed to their lacklustre start to the campaign, with Derby currently second bottom in the Championship with seven points from their opening 12 matches.
Derby's backline in particular has been decimated with as many as eight defensive options on the treatment table prior to Saturday's 1-1 draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and right-back Max Johnston did at least return in that fixture, but John Eustace remains light on centre-back personnel and Derby are set to acquire another body in the shape of Duffy.
According to The Telegraph's John Percy, the Republic of Ireland international has been training with the Rams for the last two weeks and will sign a short-term contract.
Duffy has been without a club since he was released by Norwich City in the summer.
The 34-year-old spent three years in East Anglia and played 91 games for the Canaries. However, he found minutes at a premium last season as he made just four appearances across the entire campaign.
Duffy played the full 90 minutes in Philippe Clement's first Norwich match away at Birmingham, but he was dropped in the next match against Oxford United and only made one more appearance for the Belgian prior to being omitted from Norwich's matchday squad from mid-December onwards.
A product of Everton's academy, Duffy moved to Blackburn Rovers in 2014 before becoming a mainstay in the Brighton & Hove Albion backline that won promotion to the Premier League and consolidated in the top-flight.
Duffy forged a fruitful partnership with Lewis Dunk at the heart of the Seagulls defence, winning Brighton's Player of the Season award in 2018/19, before loan moves to Celtic in 2020/21 and Fulham in 2022/23.
His switch to Fulham was made permanent in February 2023, but the Irishman made just one further appearance for the Cottagers before joining Norwich on a free transfer in the summer.
Duffy's arrival will at least provide adequate cover for Derby, who were forced to dip into the free agent market to sign Jack Robinson earlier this month.
Defenders Matt Clarke, Eiran Cashin, Charlie Taylor, Derry Murkin and Craig Forsyth all remain sidelined with injury.
Derby will be without centre-back Dion Sanderon for this weekend's fixture against Millwall after he was sent off in the draw against Sheffield United.
