Jake Buxton could return to the Derby County squad for tomorrow’s game at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Centre-back Buxton, who has scored three times in two outings for the Rams this season, missed Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Bolton due to illness.
After remaining under the weather on Wednesday, Buxton reported back to Moor Farm on Thursday and took part in today’s training session in preparation for the visit to Molineux tomorrow.
Clough says Derby will be guided by how Buxton is feeling before making a final decision whether will be immediately restored to the team alongside skipper Richard Keogh.
He said: “Jake did a bit of training yesterday and he’s trained today as well, so we’ll see how he feels before making a decision.
“You know it must be something serious when Jake tells you he’s not fit to play, but the good thing is we saw on Tuesday we’ve got a very good deputy in James O’Connor.
“If Jake is struggling at all, then James will stay in there – but we’ll see how Jake feels first and foremost.
“He’s taken his good form into this season and he’s been a threat going forward for us as well, and we won’t risk him if he’s not right.”
Clough has also confirmed that Theo Robinson could be back in the squad tomorrow, after being omitted from the 18-man squad which travelled to Bolton.
The striker scored for Derby’s U21s at Leeds on Wednesday and Clough has indicated that the striker needs to increase his workrate.
He said: “Theo worked hard at Leeds and got himself a goal in the six-yard box.
“We’ve been stressing to Theo that we don’t think he’s been working hard enough, stretching back to last season and into pre-season.
“He put a good shift in at Leeds so he comes back into the reckoning.”