The Rams depleted playing stocks will be tested further this weekend, with John Eustace suspended for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

In picking up his 5th booking of the season against QPR for a foul on Junior Hoilett, the passage between front and back will be exposed, an area that has definitely needed protection, especially if you take many of the Rams recent home performances into account.

Eustace has grown with each match as an on field general, marshalling and berating his troops as he tries to plug the gap between what has been a leaky back four and a largely effective midfield and forward set up.

Losing Eustace in his defensive midfielder role, potentially creates a big headache for Head Coach Steve McClaren, as no other healthy player fits the mould that Eustace has filled over the last few months.

Speaking to the DET, McClaren himself seemed unsure what he would do to fill the void come Saturday:

“It is not going to be an easy task, we have only three fit midfield players and one of them is now suspended. So we will have to think of something.”

Well hopefully you think of something Steve - but just in case you can't, maybe I can help?

Obvious replacements are scarce with Jeff Hendrick (ankle), Zak Whitbread (calf), Ben Davies (calf), James Bailey (knee), Mark O'Brien (knee) and Shaun Barker (knee), all out of action.

I know the suspension is only for a week, but now that Eustace has become such an important player in the Rams formation, it is important a contingency plan is in place and this is a chance to test it.

Not that I am expecting Eustace to break down any time soon, in fact the week off may do him good, but having turned 34 on Sunday (Happy Birthday John!!), coupled with a history of injury problems, it is a 'Plan-B' that Derby must have ready to roll.

The first option in covering John’s week off could be a more attacking formation without the holding midfielder. Playing at home with a 4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2 formation would seem like the most likely scenario, with Michael Jacobs coming in and perhaps Craig Bryson dropping back at times to help cover the creative forays of Ward and Hughes.

Jacobs would be jumping out of his skin to be given a chance under the new Coach and there is no doubt many fans would be pleased to see the long suffering bench warmer a chance to shine. But it is not a case of whether he can do the job; it is a case of whether those sitting behind him will be more exposed by a more attacking formation.

If McClaren wants to slot someone into the Eustace style role, maybe using the likes of the impressive Wisdom to plug the gap, with Smith or Freeman coming in at Right Back.

The Liverpool defender has filled the role at England U21 level and has the fitness and presence to do the job. Wisdom definitely has a commanding nature about him that belies his actual age, which may suit the Rams needs if McClaren chooses to go that way.

With Hendrick, Coutts & Bailey on the injury list — there isn’t an obvious like for like replacement but a couple of players in particular, will see this as a chance to put their hand up for regular selection.

In theory the Rams should be red hot favourites and will be expected to win this match, especially as Sheffield Wednesday come to Pride Park having only won their first league match last Saturday, taking them out of the drop zone.

But stats are not everything, despite struggling at the foot of the table, Wednesday has not lost in 5 having battled out 4 draws before their win, which suggests they know how to scrap for their points.

This shows one cannot rely on looking at table position and what ‘should happen’, that has been the Rams Achilles heel at home all season.

Remember Birmingham!?

Wednesday will come and park the bus in front of the Rams, as has been the successful blue print for visitors all season. Derby may benefit from a fast paced attacking formation to stretch Wednesday and make them chase, but in doing so, nerves may kick in if Wednesday break, leaving our back four exposed, who are already under fire for recent poor efforts.

Whichever way the coaching team choose to go, the fact of the matter is that the Rams have to start putting teams like Wednesday to the sword, if they genuinely want to push for a top six spot.

The only way that will happen is if the team creates a tempo to break down their less talented foes, no matter how many bodies they put in front of the ball, and stay focused and solid at the back.

When you put it like that, it sounds simple, but unfortunately on match day, it rarely is.

Come Saturday, Steve McClaren will implement his 'Plan-B' and soon enough see if he has found some answers or whether losing Eustace, has only created a new question to deal with.

Photo: Action Images

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