Derby will welcome back defender Jay McEveley for the Championship clash against Coventry at Pride Park on Friday night.

McEveley will make a dramatic return to the Rams squad less than three weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone.

Even more remarkably, the defender is back in contention after his heart stopped for two minutes during the operation to correct the facial injury he sustained in the league defeat at Middlesbrough on October 20.

McEveley will wear a protective mask but the 24-year-old insists he will not be holding back in any challenges.

"I can't play without being 100% committed to every challenge. If I'm lucky enough to play and there's a ball to be won, I'll stick my head in there without a moments hesitation," he said. "The mask helps massively, it is very solid. It would have to be some blow for me to suffer any more damage."

The left-back is one of a quartet of players the injury-hit Rams could have available again along with fellow defender Dean Leacock, midfielder Paul Green and striker Rob Hulse.

Leacock and Hulse have trained this week after missing the defeat at Ipswich with mumps and a stomach bug respectively while a late decision will be made on Green's involvement following his lengthy absence with a broken metatarsal.