Conor Washington: Derby County striker needs surgery on serious ankle injury
- Published
Conor Washington has earned 31 caps for Northern Ireland
Derby striker Conor Washington has been ruled out for at least three months and requires surgery after suffering an ankle injury on international duty.
The 31-year-old came off the bench in both of Northern Ireland's European Championship qualifiers against Finland and Denmark earlier this month.
Derby boss Paul Warne said Washington returned to Pride Park with ankle ligament damage.
"It's a massive blow," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.
"Unfortunately he's damaged two of his three ligaments, so he is going to need an op and be out for 12 weeks after the op's taken place, and he hasn't had it yet.
"He's not in a good place, obviously."
A three-month absence could see Washington miss 17 of Derby's remaining 29 League One games.
While the striker, who has netted three time in 14 league appearances since arriving from Rotherham in the summer, was struggling with a calf injury before international duty, he was passed fit for selection by Northern Ireland.
Warne stressed the ankle injury is "completely different".
He said: "We are not going to boohoo about it - it's just disappointing.
"Every striker has a different attribute and Wash's is one where he could stretch the play for us and give us a different dimension.
"And he was starting to get, not his football mojo back, I don't mean it like that, but his form back possibly and think the fans started to see the good side of Wash, so it's a big blow."
Derby, who moved into the play-off places with victory against Bristol Rovers on Saturday, next face Port Vale on Tuesday.