DERBY COUNTY 2, WANDERERS 0: Nicky Hunt is waiting anxiously today for a specialist's verdict on the knee injury he suffered at Derby on Saturday.

The Wanderers full-back is hoping scans show that the damage is no worse than a strained medial ligament, but Sam Allardyce was taking nothing for granted as he weighed up the mounting injury problems that are hampering his preparations for the new season, which is less than three weeks away.

The Whites are still looking for their first win of the pre-season campaign and still in desperate need of a proven goalscorer. But the most worrying factor is the casualty list.

"If we had the number of injuries we have now on August 19, when we start the season with three games in a week, it would be a major problem," Allardyce said.

Until Saturday, Henrik Pedersen's Achilles injury a recurrence of the problem that put him out of action for much of last season was the only serious concern, especially with regular left-back Ricardo Gardner sidelined until October at the earliest after undergoing knee surgery. Joey O'Brien, Kevin Davies and Abdoulaye Faye did not travel, although their problems were described as "niggly".

But by half-time at Pride Park, Hunt had limped off with suspected knee ligament damage and Wanderers were trailing 1-0 to a stunning 30-yard free kick from the Rams' Spanish midfielder Inigo Idiakez on the half hour.

And things went from bad to worse seven minutes into the second half when new signing Quinton Fortune was withdrawn, although his problem was later described as nothing more than a slight tightening of a groin muscle.

Allardyce more concerned with the big picture than the result, which was wrapped up in the 86th minute when Giles Barnes knocked in the rebound after Ali Al-Habsi had saved Paul Peschisolido's shot was generally happy with what he described as a "good workout".

But, reflecting on the growing injury problems affecting his already limited squad, he said: "Quinton's is not that worrying but Nicky Hunt's, on top of all the others, might be a big concern for us. The way he twisted was a worrying factor. "

There might have been some consolation had Wanderers made more of their early scoring chances to impose their Premiership class on Billy Davies' Championship side. But Ricardo Vaz Te, who has looked the most likely and lively of the front men in the pre-season games, set up a header for Gary Speed and was out of luck with two efforts of his own.

It told Allardyce no more than he knew already. "We always looked comfortable and controlled," he said, "but with no end product again, which is what we know, so we're not complaining about that. We know that's a bit of a problem for us."

On the plus side, Ivan Campo and Stelios, made their first appearances of the summer the Spaniard showing his versatility by playing in three different positions, starting in centre-midfield and moving to right-back then left-back as Wanderers again rang the changes with seven substitutions.

Hunt's departure gave another Spaniard, Alex Perez, a chance to make an impression, although the 21-year-old former Real Madrid junior, who plays for Gimnastic, may need to do more over the next week of his trial if Wanderers are to pursue their interest.

Derby County (4-4-1-1): Camp; Edworthy, Moore, Johnson, Boertien; Bisgaard, Idiakez, Bolder, Smith; Barnes; Howard. Subs: Peschisolido for Bisgaard 54 mins, Jackson for Boertien 54 mins, Holmes for Howard 73 mins, Thirlwell for Idiakez 74 mins, Nyatanga for Johnson 81 mins, Meredith for Edworthy 81 mins.

Wanderers (4-4-3): Jaaskelainen; Hunt, Ben Haim, Trialist, Fortune; Nolan, Campo, Speed; Vaz Te, Diouf, Stelios. Subs: Perez for Hunt 42 mins, Fojut for Fortune 54 mins, Wolfe for Stelios 61 mins, Sissons for Nolan 67 mins, Charlesworth for Ben Haim 73 mins, Al-Habsi for Jaaskelainen 74 mins, Blazey for Diouf 78 mins.

Att: 9,135