LAST UPDATE | 26 Sep 2019
IRELAND DEFENDER RICHARD Keogh has sustained a “serious injury” in a car collision that saw Derby County team-mates Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence charged with drink driving.
As a result, the Derby captain is expected to be sidelined until the end of the season.
First reported by The Telegraph, Keogh sustained a suspected fractured wrist and an injury to his knee as passenger in Lawrence’s Range Rover, which crashed into a lamppost in the late hours of Tuesday.
Lawrence and Bennett were arrested shortly before midnight. Neither player was injured in the incident but the club will launch a formal inquiry.
The club confirmed the news in a statement this afternoon, meaning he has been ruled out of Ireland’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers with Georgia and Switzerland.
Fellow centre-half Shane Duffy — a key player for the Boys in Green — has also emerged as a doubt after coming off injured during Brighton’s defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup last night. The Derry native will have a scan on his calf today.
Mick McCarthy is due to name his squad next Tuesday, and Sheffield United’s John Egan and Kevin Long of Burnley would be the natural replacements to start if Duffy misses out along with Keogh.
“The players were out as part of a scheduled team-building dinner with staff and while the majority of them acted responsibly and left at around 8pm and were not involved, a small group, including the team captain Richard Keogh, continued drinking into the night,” Derby’s statement reads.
“They should have known when to stop and also ignored the opportunity to be driven home using cars laid on by the club, and chose to stay out.
As a result of an alcohol-related incident, Richard Keogh has sustained a serious knee injury that will prevent him from playing until the end of the season.
“The players involved in the incident on Tuesday evening will be subject to a rigorous internal investigation under the club’s code of conduct and disciplinary procedures, but over and above any punishment they receive we will be expecting them to become involved with the excellent work the Community Trust does helping the communities we serve.
“We have been very clear about our attitude towards alcohol and the players know that at certain and specific times of the season they are permitted a drink together as a group in a controlled environment.
“Those involved in Tuesday’s incident know they will pay a heavy price for their actions, but also that we will support them with their rehabilitation back into the squad and team.”
A Derbyshire Police statement from last night reads:
“Two men have been charged with drink driving after a collision involving a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes GLC at the junction of Burley Lane and the A6 at Allestree, last night shortly before midnight [Tuesday, 24 September].
“Mason Bennett, 23, of Whaley Thorns near Mansfield and Tom Lawrence, 25, of Duffield were arrested at the scene and charged earlier today. “They are due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 15 October at 9.30am.”
- With reporting from Ben Blake, comments are closed for legal reasons
