Derby County manager Nigel Clough has revealed that striker Jamie Ward is recovering well from his injury.
Ward scored in a friendly against Burton Albion on Tuesday, but Clough has insisted that he will not play his striker until he is fully ready.
"Jamie has had no ill-effects from the Burton game, so far," Sky Sports News quotes Clough as saying.
"He trained on Wednesday and, as you would imagine, he did feel a bit stiff and tired from the game the day before. But otherwise he was alright and he felt in pretty good shape. He will have a rest on Thursday and then we will have him in on Friday.
"We have to be careful with him because he has been out for so long. We took him to Charlton and gave him 10 or 15 minutes [during his last comeback] and he couldn't last that. We must remember how long he has been out."
Derby travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Matt Domm
