Daniel Farke delivered a gloomy fitness bulletin ahead of Derby County's Championship visit - with Emi Buendia and Jamal Lewis both ruled out and doubts over Christoph Zimmermann and Timm Klose.

Buendia is likely to miss the next month with ankle ligament damage suffered in the Boxing Day 3-3 comeback against Nottingham Forest at Carrow Road.

The Spanish-bred Argentine attacking midfielder does not require surgery but faces a similar lay off to Moritz Leitner, who is also sidelined with an ankle problem until the end of January.

Jamal Lewis will miss the next three games with a hamstring problem but Farke, speaking at Colney, was more optimistic Zimmermann will recover from feeling unwell in the warm up against the Reds.

'Four weeks for Emi. A ligament injury but no surgery,' said Farke. 'Not quite as bad as Moritz's injury but he has been coming back for five days or so, so I expect both to return end of January.

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'Far from ideal. They are both important for our rhythm, for our possession and self-confidence in the team. In addition to that we have to play the next three games without Jamal. A hamstring injury, a muscular injury. We expect to have him back probably after West Brom. There is a little bit of hope for that game.

'With Timm the plan was to give him 20, 25 minutes and he had to start more or less without a warm up. He didn't look too bad after the game but we'll see how he feels on Saturday morning.'

City's medical staff are also monitoring Klose, who was pressed into an emergency shift from the start on Boxing Day.

'We hope Christoph is available,' said Farke. 'We gave him an additional rest day at home on Thursday and if he can train later then he is available. Not a major doubt but a small question mark. Let's see what the next 24 hours brings.'

Farke also provided an update on the likes of Kenny McLean, Carlton Morris and Louis Thompson are in their recoveries.

'Kenny has nearly been back in team training two weeks and had two appearances for the Under-23s. It is good to have him back,' said Farke. 'In my plans he is more for end of January, perhaps a first game in the FA Cup. He needs a bit more. If we have five or six more injuries then maybe he is more sooner in my plans.

'With Louis and Carlton both back on the pitch and doing a lot with the ball. Not back in full team training but part of some drills. They need to test the physical side of it now, especially Carlton after being out for so many months. With Louis we have to be a bit careful with his shoulder but not too far away.'

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