Derby County faced setbacks in their match against Watford as several key players were absent, leading to their defeat. Despite their ambitions to follow up on their surprising victory against Middlesbrough, they couldn’t secure any points at Vicarage Road after Ebou Adams’ early goal.
Two notable omissions for the Rams were Josh Vickers and Ben Osborn, who had been pivotal in the team’s initial outings in the Championship. In their absence, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and Adams stepped in to fill the void. Zetterstrom, newly arrived from Djurgardens IF, made his debut in goal for Derby, replacing Vickers.
Manager Paul Warne clarified the reasons behind Osborn and Vickers’ absence, citing Osborn’s calf injury and expressing hope for his swift return, while Vickers was sidelined due to a groin injury. The timeline for Vickers’ recovery remains uncertain, though typical recovery periods for such injuries range from 4-8 weeks.
With Vickers facing an extended spell out, Zetterstrom has solidified his place as the team’s goalkeeper, impressing fans following his promotion. The promising start by the Swedish player has seemingly secured his spot for the season, leaving Vickers in a frustrating position despite his standout performance earlier. As fans anticipate Zetterstrom’s continued impact, the club’s efforts in recruiting him signal high expectations for his role, replacing the previous goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.
