Derby’s Will Hughes requires knee surgery and faces six months out

The Derby County and England Under-21 midfielder Will Hughes is set for six months on the sidelines after the Championship side confirmed he requires surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up in Saturday’s goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers.

The highly-rated 20-year-old with 17 England Under-21 caps to his name has already made 122 Championship appearances with Derby and has previously been linked with a host of Premier League clubs.

A club statement read: “The Rams’ Academy graduate is expected to be out of action for around six months. Everyone connected with Derby County wishes Will a speedy recovery.”

Hughes featured in the two of England’s three matches in their ill-fated European Under-21 Championship campaign over the summer and was expected to play a key role in Derby’s promotion push under Paul Clement, having made 42 league appearances in Steve McClaren’s side last term.