Derby County head coach John Eustace has provided the latest update on the fitness of Sweden international Jacob Widell Zetterström ahead of the Rams’ upcoming fixture against Portsmouth.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper has been sidelined since the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, struggling to recover from a virus, and has yet to return to full training.
Eustace confirmed that Zetterström’s recovery has been far from straightforward.
“Unfortunately, Jacob is still poorly with his virus,” the Derby head coach said.
“There’s been a couple of setbacks with that, and every time he kind of steps up, it really knocks him back. He’s in a bad old way at the moment, but we’re trying everything to get him back on the grass.”
The Sweden international has undergone a series of tests in recent weeks as Derby look to fully understand the severity of the situation and ensure that any return to training is safe.
Eustace stressed the importance of prioritising the goalkeeper’s long-term health over rushing him back into the first team.
“Obviously, he’s such a vital part of the squad and the team, but the most important thing is that he comes back healthy and he’s ready to go,” he added.
In Zetterström’s absence, Josh Vickers had been relied upon to cover between the posts.
However, Derby have suffered a further setback, with Vickers now sidelined due to a groin injury that will keep him out for the next six to eight weeks.
This leaves Derby in a challenging situation heading into the Monday clash with Portsmouth.
With both of their primary goalkeepers unavailable, Richard O’Donnell is set to take the starting role on Monday, while academy goalkeeper Jack Thompson is expected to step up to the bench.
Due to league rules, Derby are unable to sign an emergency goalkeeper on loan unless O’Donnell, the club’s only fit and available senior goalkeeper, suffers an injury.
Eustace and his coaching staff now face the task of preparing the squad under these unusual circumstances.
The Rams’ goalkeeper situation has added an extra layer of complexity to their preparations, but Eustace remains focused on maintaining stability within the squad.
He and his staff will continue to monitor Zetterström’s recovery closely while ensuring that O’Donnell and Thompson are ready for the challenge on Monday.
As Derby look to navigate these setbacks, the focus remains clear: player health and squad readiness are the top priorities as they prepare to face Portsmouth in what promises to be a testing fixture for the Rams.
