While Alan Stubbs looks set to miss out on a return to Goodison Park because of a calf injury, long-term injury victim Giles Barnes could be an absentee at the start of the 2008-09 campaign.

Better news for Paul Jewell is that Scotland pair Jay McEveley and Kenny Miller should be available for Sunday's game at Everton after recovering from dead-legs.

However Stubbs, who would have loved to have been involved at his former club, looks unlikely to recover in time from a calf injury picked up in the game at Chelsea three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether teenager Barnes, who has returned to the UK after knee surgery in the States performed by world renowned specialist Dr Richard Steadman, will need a follow-up operation.

"It's going to be a long road for Giles," said the Derby manager.

"Hopefully we can get him back on the road to recovery and we wish him well. It's a major blow to the lad as well as us and he'll get all the support he needs from the football club

"He is in good hands. It's guesswork really so far as his recovery goes, but the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if he missed the start of next season."

Barnes was the fourth Derby player expected to see his season end prematurely following absences for loanee Danny Mills, and defenders Tyrone Mears and Claude Davis.

Mears, however, made a surprise comeback as a substitute against Fulham having recovered sooner than expected from an operation on his left shin.

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