Nick Blackman: Derby County striker out for six weeks with knee injury

Nick Blackman has scored once in nine appearances this season

Derby County striker Nick Blackman has been ruled out for six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

The 26-year-old, who joined from Reading in January, has missed the Rams' last four Championship games.

Derby are the joint-lowest scorers in the English Football League, with just nine goals in 15 matches.

"Nick has been in and out of training in the last few weeks with his knee," manager Steve McClaren told the club website.

"He finally had to go and see a surgeon and he had surgery, unfortunately, to tidy up the knee.

"If he does everything right and things go smoothly, he will be back in six weeks."