Jake Buxton could return to Derby's squad for Saturday afternoon's trip to Watford after he played 80 minutes for the Rams reserves this week.

A string of injuries have kept the centre-half out since the end of August but he can expect at least place on the bench at Vicarage Road.

Boss Nigel Clough, who expects to still be without Shaun Barker (thigh) and has doubts over the fitness of Dean Leacock (hamstrings) and Miles Addison (foot), said: "If Jake suffers no reaction, he will be in the squad. He will probably be on the bench to cover us as I think we are going to be very short in the centre-half department."

Leacock started the goalless draw at Preston on Tuesday night but was forced off 10 minutes into the second half as full-backs Jay McEveley and Paul Connolly finished the game as the centre-back pairing.

Chris Porter made his first competitive appearance since the beginning of March as a second-half substitute at Deepdale following a troublesome hip problem.

The striker, along with fellow forward Steve Davies (hamstring), midfielder Ben Pringle (knee) and goalkeeper Saul Deeney (ankle), also featured for the reserves this week and could be included in the squad once more.