I'm not even going to begin to try list all the Rams' crocks or their ailments, it would make pretty depressing reading and a list of those fully fit would probably be shorter.

With that injury list considered, we're probably doing about as well in the league as could be expected. Performances have been inconsistent but then so has team selection - necessarily so.

Of course, injuries are all part of the game and every club has at least one spell during a season when the injury list contributes to team selection more than form does and usually, relegated teams can point to a long list of long-term injured players as a major factor in their final league position.

Successful clubs on the other hand, tend go virtually injury free and of course that allows their manager the freedom to choose the team and tactics that he wants, rather than that which is forced on him. It's not rocket science.

A few years ago, Spurs had several seasons where they seemed to have more than their fair share of injuries, Mr Sicknote himself, Darren Anderton being notable in that respect. This season it seems the Rams are the new Spurs.

Why should that be? We have players who like Shaun Barker, have gone virtually injury free for their whole career up until they joined the Rams whereupon they find themselves hardly ever away from the treatment room.

Is it the training methods? Is it today's boots? We've certainly had our share of foot injuries. Is it that we've actually only suffered the number of injuries that we might reasonably expect but that the treatment and recovery methods are prolonging the time our players are out rather than accelerating their return to full fitness? Is it the surfaces at Moor Farm or Pride Park?

 

It's pretty clear that the club is just as much in the dark as the fans as Nigel Clough recently announced that the club would be a having full investigation into the situation. And on the face of it, strength and conditioning coach Nigel Ashley Jones looks to be a casualty of that investigation with his recent departure from the club "to pursue new interests", to quote the club website.

In contrast, Nigel's old club and near neighbours Burton Albion are so far having a pretty successful first season in the Football League and have been almost untouched by injuries.

Whatever the reason for our injury problems, let's hope the club gets to the bottom of the problem soon and rectifies it. We need our best players.