Derby County have been plagued by injuries this season and their woes continued when Sam Szmodics was forced off on Tuesday.
The Rams were beaten 4-0 by Norwich City in midweek, with the result leaving the Championship side seven points from safety inside the relegation zone.
To make matters worse, Szmodics was replaced by Filip Bilbija just after the hour mark in the defeat and could be seen limping as he made his way off the pitch.
The Republic of Ireland joined Derby on loan from Ipswich Town this summer, after spending the latter part of last season at Pride Park.
His two goals in all competitions are enough to make him the club's top scorer amidst their dismal start this season, and John Eustace now faces an extended spell without his star man.
As their injury list grows ever larger we've taken a look at when Szmodics could return to action.
When is Sam Szmodics expected to return from his injury?
In the aftermath of Tuesday's game it has emerged that Szmodics has aggravated a pre-existing knee injury that he has been playing through this season amid Derby's injury crisis.
Early reports suggest that Szmodics will be out for at least six weeks due to the setback, and could potentially not be fit to return until the new year.
The news will come as a significant blow to Eustace, who has found himself under increasing pressure in recent weeks as the Rams languish near the bottom of the Championship table.
Speaking on the injury Eustace bemoaned his lack of options as a result of the ongoing crisis.
"Sam has been playing through a knee injury. A lot of the players we have at the moment are going through difficult moments to get through 90 minutes, you can see the squad is very, very thin," Eustace told BBC Radio Derby.
"To lose a player of Sam Szmodics' quality, although he has been playing about three quarters fit anyway, is a huge loss to us."
What games could Sam Szmodics miss for Derby?
Assuming the early prognosis of Szmodics' condition proves to be correct and he misses the remainder of 2026, he will be unavailable for the club's next ten games.
- Derby County v Bolton Wanderers - Friday 6th November
- Southampton v Derby County - Saturday 21st November
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County - Tuesday 24th November
- Derby County v Watford - Saturday 28th November
- Middlesbrough v Derby County - Saturday 5th December
- Derby County v Bristol City - Wednesday 9th December
- Blackburn Rovers v Derby County - Saturday 12th December
- Derby County v Lincoln City - Saturday 19th December
- Preston v Derby County - Saturday 26th December
- Derby County v Sheffield United - Tuesday 29th December
