Sondre Langås has urged Derby County to park their mounting injury concerns and focus on what is ahead, telling BBC Radio Derby that the squad simply cannot afford to dwell on who is missing.

"We cannot think about that," the Norwegian defender said, delivering a message that cuts to the heart of the mentality inside the Pride Park dressing room. "Injury is part of football and we need to get on with it."

A squad tested by absences

Derby have already absorbed significant defensive disruption this season. Goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith departed for Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer, while Kjell Scherpen (known in reports as Zetterstrom) was ruled out for two months, adding pressure to a back line that needed reinforcement rather than reduction.

Into that context, Langås's words carry weight. The centre-back has established himself as one of the more reliable presences in Paul Warne's defensive unit, and his composure in front of the microphone reflects the same composure Derby need from him on the pitch when others are unavailable.

What "getting on with it" actually means

The phrase is easy to say and hard to deliver. For Derby, getting on with it has meant shifting personnel, altering the shape at times, and asking players to cover positions that are not naturally theirs. Langås himself has had to adapt within the back line depending on who is available beside him.

When a senior defender is missing, the player who steps up is not simply filling a shirt. He absorbs organisational responsibility: calling lines, managing the press, deciding when to step and when to hold. Langås taking that burden publicly, as well as on the pitch, signals that leadership is not waiting for someone senior to return.

The Championship demands resilience

The second tier does not ease its schedule for clubs carrying casualties. Fixtures arrive in rapid succession, and Derby have already faced a demanding start that has included a number of high-stakes matches against sides around them in the table.

Reports from earlier this season suggested that analyst Paul Warne sees this period as one where character is built as much as points. A draw against Burnley and recent competitive fixtures against sides fighting in similar territory showed Derby can compete, even when not at full strength.

What Langås is reinforcing publicly is the internal attitude the club needs to sustain. When a defender says an injury is part of football with the kind of matter-of-fact certainty he projected in the BBC Radio Derby interview, it sets a tone. Other players in the squad hear it. Staff hear it. The message is that no one is waiting for a rescue; the group on the training pitch is the group that will deliver results.

Eyes on what comes next

Derby sit in a Championship table that offers genuine opportunity if they can find consistency. Their early-season campaign has provided enough evidence that Warne's side can trouble teams in this division, and Langås returning to that level of performance while others are absent makes the difference between a run and a rut.

The Norwegian's public stance closes the door on excuses before anyone opens it. Injury is part of football. Get on with it. For a Championship club trying to build momentum through a congested calendar, that mindset matters as much as any transfer window addition.

Frequently asked

Who is Sondre Langås at Derby County?
Sondre Langås is a Norwegian centre-back who has become a regular presence in Derby County's defensive line during the current Championship season.
How are Derby County dealing with injuries this season?
Derby have faced a number of defensive absences, including a lengthy goalkeeper injury and other departures. Defender Sondre Langås has urged the squad to accept injury as part of football and focus on results rather than what they are missing.
What has Sondre Langås said about Derby's injury problems?
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Langås said the squad cannot afford to think about their injury problems, insisting that injury is part of football and that the group needs to get on with it.