Derby County could have striker Rhian Brewster back available to face Leicester City in a lift for the Rams as they manage the absence of leading scorer Carlton Morris.
Brewster, who has missed Derby’s previous three fixtures, will return to full training by Friday and so might be an option at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon, when City are aiming to avoid a third consecutive loss.
A fit attacker is welcome news for manager John Eustace, who is having to handle life without Morris after his ankle problem, one that will rule him out until February.
Morris is the Championship’s joint-leading scorer with 10 goals and no other player in the Rams squad has managed more than three.
Elsewhere, Derby are also hoping to have seasoned defender Danny Batth back, although midfielder Lewis Travis and David Ozoh remain unavailable.
“Rhian will join back in the group hopefully on Friday, so we’ll have to see if he’ll be available at the weekend, but he’s made great progress over the last couple of weeks, so, hopefully he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later,” Eustace said at his press conference on Wednesday.
“Trav’s making progress, he’s on the grass and his scans are showing some really positive signs as well. He’s not going to be available for the weekend, but touch wood, he’ll be back available in the next couple of weeks.
“David Ozoh is probably still three or four weeks away, I would have thought.
“Danny’s Batth’s fine. He was on the grass today, so, touch wood he’ll be available for the weekend.”
Derby are two points and five positions above City going into this weekend’s clash, the first meeting between the teams in nearly nine years.
The Rams are in far stronger form than City, with only Coventry earning more than their 18 points over the last eight matches. In the same spell, City have accumulated only seven points.