Derby County FC

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• Manager:Nigel Clough

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Barnes adds to Rams woe

29 Feb 2008 - 10:56:00

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Derby County boss Paul Jewell has hit out at reports suggesting a knee injury to Giles Barnes was the result of a 'boot camp' approach to training.

An angry Jewell lambasted his players after the Rams lurched closer towards an immediate return to the Championship following a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Jewell had reportedly introduced a punishing training schedule this week in a bid to whip his players into shape, but the Rams boss has denied claims that an excessive programme has resulted in an injury to Barnes.

The teenage midfielder will now miss Saturday's home clash with Sunderland while awaiting the results of scans on his injured knee.

"Sometimes players don't like to be lambasted and I don't like doing it," he said.

"I'm sure there are lots of managers up and down the country who have had their teams in earlier than my team so it's no boot camp, that's a load of nonsense."

Referring to Barnes, he added: "He was playing football when he did it and believe it or not you have to run around to play football.

"Does a boot camp style meaning getting in at 10 o'clock and leaving again at 3 o'clock? That's boot camp is it?

"There's been hard work on the training ground, but nothing I didn't do as a player, so that being the cause of the injury just isn't true.

"It was an unfortunate one in training. There was no-one near Giles and unfortunately he twisted his knee.

"We are waiting on the results of the scan when the swelling goes down so fingers crossed it is nothing too serious."