Hopeful On Hughes

Midfielder in with a shout of making Saturday's home game with Reading.

Nigel Clough says Will Hughes has ‘a chance’ of winning his battle to be fit in time for Derby County’s Pride Park clash with Reading in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.

The England under 21 international midfielder had to be replaced just after half-time in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers.

Clough confirmed after the game that the 18-year-old had a problem around his groin/pelvic area.

He will receive treatment from Derby’s medical staff in the coming days with a view to being available for selection against the Royals.

Clough said: “Will is alright and the initial problem isn’t as bad as we first thought.

“He mentioned after the warm-up at Bolton and in the first-half he felt his groin a little bit and at half-time it tightened up a bit.

“The physios checked him over and his pelvis was a bit ‘out’ so we’ll get him sorted.

“We actually think that came from a few challenges he was on the receiving end of at Millwall on Saturday.

“He didn’t train on Wednesday and we’ll see how he is in the next few days and take it from there.”

With five more games to be played before the second international break of the season in early October, Clough says there’s no chance of Hughes being risked unless he proves his fitness.

Hughes has started all seven of the Rams’ league games so far this season.

“We can’t really take too much of a chance on him with the games we have coming up, so we’ll only get him out there against Reading if he is fit,” Clough explained.

“He’s got a chance and that’s positive.”

Watch more from Nigel Clough in an exclusive interview on Rams Player.